MENIFEE: Officials reviewing use of force in arrest of non-compliant suspect

MENIFEE — Sheriff’s officials say they are reviewing an arrest that involved a “use of force” against a man they allege was acting “loud and aggressive” towards vehicles and other passersby Thursday, August 17. The incident and arrest happened in the area of Newport and Haun Roads in Menifee.

Officials today addressed a partial video of the arrest that was posted to social media, explaining the video, which did not show the deputy’s “repeated efforts to convince Mr. Raymond to comply with his orders,” was not a full and accurate reflection of the incident.

In a written press release, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Timothy Brause explained, “As with most police events, the short, publicly produced video does not have the full context or content of the incident seen on the video.”

The incident and arrest happened when deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Menifee Police Station responded to a disturbance at a business about 1 pm, regarding a man who 911 callers reported was being “loud and aggressive” towards shoppers and others around him.

When they arrived, witnesses provided the first arriving deputy with a description of a man, who was later identified as Keith Elton Raymond, 41, of Menifee. Witnesses told the deputy Raymond had already left prior to the official’s arrival.

Witnesses directed the deputy to a man who was “aggressively shouting at (passersby),” Brause explained.

When the deputy made contact with Raymond, he was “acting erratic and was uncompliant” with the official and he “assumed a fighting stance,” said Brause.

“When Mr. Raymond resisted further efforts to gain his cooperation, a brief struggle ensued before he was taken into custody,” Brause explained.

After he was arrested, Raymond received a medical clearance for booking, and was booked at the Cois M. Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of being under the influence of illegal drugs and resisting arrest.

Raymond was released within hours of his arrest, after he posted $3,500 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center, Oct. 11.

The deputy’s use of force will be investigated administratively, according to Brause, who explained, “Rarely in use of force situations is there agreement from all parties involved as to the appropriateness, efficacy or necessity of its use.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident and arrest is encouraged to contact sheriff’s officials at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number ME17229053 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.