TEMECULA: “Vigilant resident’s” 911 call results in arrest of felon with firearm, stolen laptop

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TEMECULA — Officials are crediting a “vigilant resident” who spotted and called in a report of suspicious activity Friday, May 26, as resulting in the early-morning arrest of a convicted felon. The man, who was attempted to concealed a semiautomatic handgun from deputies, was found to be in possession of ammunition and a stolen laptop.  As a convicted felon, the man is prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms or ammunition.

After his arrest, Anthony Michael Means, 31, of French Valley, was booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and for possession of stolen property.

An online jail records search revealed Means remains in custody on $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta May 31.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station responded to the 28900 block of Newport Road in Temecula shortly after 1 a.m., after a “vigilant resident” saw a man acting suspiciously, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Daniel Hernandez wrote in a press release after the incident and arrest.

The 911 callers told dispatchers the subject, who was later identified as Means, was looking inside parked vehicles.

As deputies responded to the area, the sharp-eyed citizen who called 911 to report Means’ suspicious behavior continued to provide updated information to emergency dispatchers.

Just before deputies arrived, the 911 caller saw Means “enter another vehicle and drive away at a high rate of speed,” said Hernandez.

“Moments later,” deputies reportedly located Means’ vehicle parked near some businesses on the 40600 block of Winchester Road in Temecula.

As deputies approached the parked vehicle, they spotted Means walking away from it. Based on the circumstances, officials detained Means for further investigation.

During a subsequent investigation, deputies discovered Means was in possession of ammunition and a laptop that was later determined to be stolen. Although Means claimed he was not in possession of a weapon, a search of the area near his vehicle turned up a semi-automatic handgun hidden underneath a bush. The handgun was found near where deputies first spotted Means’ walking away from vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000. Callers can refer to incident file number TE171460006 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.