DHS Man Suspected Of Illegal Firearms, Drug Sales

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA — A 58-year-old man suspected of illegal sales of illicit drugs and firearms was taken into custody Thursday in Desert Hot Springs.

Alfonso Smith of Desert Hot Springs was arrested by officers of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force and booked on suspicion of multiple weapon and drug-related offenses at the John Benoit Detention Center. He was held on $25,000 bail and is slated to appear in court at the Indio Larson Justice Center on Aug. 15.

Task force personnel, with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Special Enforcement Bureau, executed a search warrant Thursday at a house in the 66300 block of Avenida Suenos, near Santa Cruz Road and Avenida Barona, stemming from an ongoing investigation involving illegal sales of drugs and firearms, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Cameron James.

Investigators identified Smith as responsible for the illegal sales operation and took him into custody without incident.

James said during the execution of the search warrant, investigators seized several firearms inside Smith's house, which included an assault rifle, a non-serialized 9mm handgun, a Tannerite explosive target used for firearms practice and illegal narcotics.

Anyone with information regarding the ongoing investigation was urged to call the Gang Task Force at 760-836-1600. For non-emergency information regarding gang activity, call 951-922-7601. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.