UPDATE 3: Early morning search warrant served at Soboba residence
UPDATED With additional photographs
Sheriffs officials seized numerous weapons as evidence during the service of the search warrant. Eddie George-Laurie Cain / Hemet News photos
SAN JACINTO – Very few details have been released after officials from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department served an early morning search warrant on the Soboba Indian Reservation today, Friday, May 27, according to a sheriff official.
“At about 5 a.m. this morning, the sheriff’s SWAT team responded to the 23200 block of Soboba Road to execute a search warrant,” Riverside Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Michael Vasquez explained. “The sheriff’s department will be releasing more information at a later time.”
As of 1 p.m., several sheriff’s vehicles were still at the scene, collecting evidence, seizing weapons and taking photographs.
Hemet News reporters Eddie George, Laurie Cain, and Ricardo Ruelas were outside the residence where the search warrant was served when investigators were removing numerous shotguns, rifles and other weapons from the home at about 1 p.m. The weapons were seized as evidence related to the search warrant.
Several sheriffs vehicles could still be seen at the residence at 1 p.m. Hemet News photos
It was not immediately known if the search warrant was related to a weapon’s related vehicle pursuit that left the Soboba Indian Reservation locked down for several hours on Tuesday, May 24. (See second video below.)
Tuesday’s incident began after an unidentified man allegedly brandished a rifle at another motorist while driving near the reservation. When deputies arrived in the area, the suspect fled onto the reservation at a high rate of speed. The dangerous vehicle and foot pursuit ended in the same general area where today’s search warrant was served.
Riverside Sheriff’s “Star-9” spent several hours circling overhead after Tuesday’s incident as well as during today’s search warrant service. Hemet News photos
Although the man eluded capture, deputies recovered a rifle that was discarded by the alleged suspect.
The fleeing man reportedly dropped the rifle near a residence while fleeing from the vehicle he was driving when the incident began.
The incident led to an hours-long search for the suspect, who ultimately eluded capture and was not located that day.
During Tuesday’s vehicle pursuit and subsequent search for the suspect, no vehicles were allowed to come onto or leave the reservation, causing hours of frustration for motorists and lost revenue for the Soboba Casino; which is located on Soboba Road, just down the street from where today’s search warrant was served.
Sheriff’s officials work near a sheriff’s tactical vehicle. Hemet News photo
Video from the residence where the early morning search warrant was served showed at least a dozen officials still at the location more than seven hours after the service of the warrant. Hemet News video
Tuesday’s vehicle pursuit began after a man in a vehicle was seen brandishing a rifle at another motorist. The man led deputies on a dangerous, high-speed vehicle pursuit onto the reservation and ultimately eluded capture. A rifle was recovered after the suspect dropped it while fleeing from deputies on foot. Hemet News video
Traffic was backed up Tuesday, as people waited up to several hours to be allowed onto the reservation. Hemet News photos
Police converged on a residence after Tuesday’s vehicle pursuit. A search warrant was served at the same residence three days later. Hemet News photos
Nobody could take Soboba Road onto or out of the reservation for several hours following Tuesday’s pursuit. Hemet News photos
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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