Man with loaded gun arrested during violent confrontation at Hemet CVS
Luis Alvarado was arrested by Hemet PD during an armed confrontation at a Hemet CVS.
HEMET – Officers arrested a Hemet area resident, during a violent encounter at a CVS Pharmacy, Friday, May 6. The pharmacy is at 3055 W Florida Avenue, in Hemet.
The man, who was later identified as Luis Alvarado, 34, a resident of unincorporated Hemet, was found to be armed with a loaded handgun and two knives. He was arrested following a violent confrontation between pharmacy personnel and an officer, according to a department official.
A Hemet Police officer was dispatched to the business at about 7:20 p.m., after City of Hemet emergency communications dispatchers received a 911 call from a CVS employee regarding an “in-progress shoplifting involving an armed subject.” The 911 caller told dispatchers Alvarado was inside the store and using a knife to cut open packages, in order to steal merchandise.
While en route to the store, the officer received an update from the store that Alvarado was attempting to leave the business with stolen merchandise and that he was fighting with employees who were trying to detain him.
Upon arrival, the officer found the confrontation had spilled outside to the front of the store, and that Alvarado was still actively fighting and struggling with two CVS Pharmacy employees. As the officer rushed to assist in the apprehension, he saw Alvarado reaching into his jacket pocket, attempting pull an unknown weapon from his clothing.
Knowing that Alvarado was reportedly armed, the officer tackled the suspect to the ground where the man continued to actively resist and struggle. With help from the CVS employees, the officer was eventually able to handcuff and detain Alvarado without further incident.
The officer searched the pocket Alvarado was seen reaching into when he first arrived and found a loaded .380 semi-automatic handgun. During a further search, the officer discovered Alvarado was also armed with two knives.
Neither of the CVS Pharmacy employees or the officer were injured during the violent struggle and arrest.
At the conclusion of his investigation, the officer arrested Alvarado and transported him to the Southwest Detention Center. He was booked on four felony and two misdemeanor charges; including suspicion of robbery, carrying a loaded firearm in public, carrying a concealed firearm, and resisting a police officer, all felonies. Alvarado was also booked for two misdemeanor counts of petty theft.
A jail records search revealed Alvarado is being held in lieu of $30,000 and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center May 11, at 8 a.m.
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I heard on Sat there were a number of gunshots fired about 10 something in the evening on Kirby near Menlo. Did you get anything on that?
There were a number of random shots fired calls that night. Most pan out to be fireworks or the investigating law enforcement officers arrive to find nothing they are able to report on.