One arrested after Hemet traffic stop yields weapons, drugs
HEMET – Hemet Police officers arrested a man in the area of 225 S. Elk Street Thursday, June 30, at about 2:20 a.m. The arrest came after an officer located weapons, narcotics, and items during a traffic stop. The subject was later booked for eight felonies and one misdemeanor.
The officer conducted the traffic enforcement stop after observing a vehicle code violation. During the traffic stop, the officer conducted a records check and learned the driver, who was identified as John Loyal Runnels, 54, of Hemet, was on probation for possession of a controlled substance.
Based on his probation terms, officers searched Runnels’ vehicle and located a loaded firearm, methamphetamine, items associated with the sales of methamphetamine, pepper spray, and a stun gun.
Based on their investigations, officers arrested the driver of the vehicle and transported him to the Southwest Detention Center.
Runnels was booked on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance for sales, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, being a felon in possession of pepper spray, being a felon in possession of a “stun gun”, possession of stolen firearm, and probation violation.
Runnels is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta July 5.
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RCNS is by far the best, most concise, accurate crime source in the IE. Being a Hemet resident, I am taken aback by the sheer volume of criminal activity ostensibly perpetrated by post release supervision re-offenders: Hemet / San Jacinto (157). To every casual observer it seems that if the SJ Valley problem can be can be fixed, literally half the IE crime would be mitigated. Of course it’s not so simplistic since criminals gravitate to where they can set up shop with impunity where there are abundant soft targets. Is there a high level explanation for why Hemet/SJ Valley is being so mercilessly victimized?