Peaceful Protests In Riverside County: Arrests, Photos, Updates

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Weekend demonstrations denouncing police brutality in the wake of the death of George Floyd were largely peaceful in Riverside County, with eight people arrested by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and no reports of property damage, it was announced Monday.

According to Sheriff's Sgt. Deanna Pecoraro, most of the arrests were made Saturday at Temecula's Duck Pond where several hundred people gathered. Six were arrested on suspicion of resisting a police officer and unlawful assembly; one of the arrests included an assault and battery booking charge, she said.

Duck Pond is located at the corner of Ynez and Rancho California roads, and for a brief period the later was closed. During an afternoon rally that began around 3 p.m., events became tense but deescalated as evening approached.

Temecula Mayor James "Stew" Stewart issued a statement late Saturday night that read, "As Mayor, I want to express that the leaders of our City hurt alongside you. We are deeply disturbed at the inexcusable and intolerable acts of brutality that took place in Minnesota, and grieve the death of Mr. George Floyd.

"I am proud to serve as Mayor of a City that respects diversity, and values peaceful, constitutional assembly and free speech without violence," he continued.

The mayor was critical of those arrested, but said, "I have the utmost confidence in Temecula residents to be peaceful and empathetic as we express our sincere and profound condolences. God bless Temecula. God Bless America. God Bless Mr. Floyd."

There were no arrests at a Sunday night vigil held outside Temecula City Hall.

At a rally Sunday near Moreno Valley City Hall, approximately 200 demonstrators gathered and one person was arrested by deputies on suspicion of vandalism (spray painting), according to Pecoraro.

One protestor was arrested Sunday at an Eastvale demonstration, but the sergeant did not have the booking information.

During the protests, there were no injuries to deputies and no reports of property damage in areas patrolled by the sheriff's department, according to Pecoraro.

Riverside has issued a countywide curfew that will take effect at 6 p.m. Monday and continue until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Read more: Curfew Set In Riverside County, Despite Peaceful Protests

Riverside police are anticipating a large crowd to gather about 4 p.m. Monday near the closed Main Library, adjacent to the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, in the area of Orange Street and Mission Inn Avenue downtown. The demonstration is expected to be peaceful, but the police department will have numerous officers on hand to monitor activity, according to agency spokesman Officer Ryan Railsback.

At least three groups of demonstrators announced plans to assemble Monday in the Coachella Valley to denounce police brutality in the wake of Floyd's death, whose police custody death in Minneapolis on Memorial Day has sparked civil unrest nationwide and protests around the globe.

Protests were planned in Palm Springs and Palm Desert, as well as a vigil in Indio set to begin at 6 p.m. at Miles Avenue Park.

According to Palm Springs police, protesters began assembling downtown around 10 a.m. at South Palm Canyon Drive and East Tahquitz Canyon Way. Sgt. Mike Casavan said no barricades were initially set up as the protest was expected to be peaceful, although the department warned on social media that officers would be ready to respond in the event of any violence.

"We are aware of the planned protest today and throughout the week," the Palm Springs Police Department said in a Facebook post. "Our entire PSPD family is heartbroken over the devastation and hurt that our nation is going through right now. We want it to be known that we support our community as they let their voices be heard and peacefully protest.

"As a department, our main priority is protecting life and property. We are prepared to respond to both peaceful protests and any protests that may become violent or destructive," the department continued. "We know these events are difficult, divisive and polarizing and want to thank those who participate for respecting our city, the community and the freedom of speech."

In Palm Desert, protesters were expected to gather at 5 p.m. near California Pizza Kitchen on El Paseo.

"We are in no way, shape, or form promoting violence," an unverified Instagram post from an account called coachellavalleyactivists reads.

At least some local business owners weren't taking any chances, erecting protective plywood barriers over their shop windows Monday morning along El Paseo, the city's upscale shopping district.

The Palm Desert City Council announced Monday morning that El Paseo would be shuttered to all vehicle traffic Monday evening during the protest.

"The city's number one priority is the safety and security of our community," the city's Twitter post reads. "We respect the democratic right to demonstrate peacefully and want to ensure the safety of any demonstrators, as well as our residents, workers and visitors."