TEMECULA: Riverside fugitive arrested after crashing into police vehicle during pursuit

September 16, 2017 Trevor Montgomery

TEMECULA — A PRCS probationer with a felony, narcotics-related warrant was arrested after leading authorities on a short motorcycle pursuit Friday, Sept. 15. During the pursuit, the fleeing fugitive crashed into a pursuing patrol vehicle and fled into a neighborhood. After his arrest, the suspect was allegedly found to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin.

Toby Elias was arrested after a pursuit and crash in Temecula. He was found to be in possession of a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin. RPD image

After he was apprehended, detectives from the Riverside Police Department arrested Toby Ian Elias, 40, of La Mirada.

He was booked into the Cois M. Byrd Detention Facility in Murrieta on suspicion of three narcotics-related charges and recklessly evading police. He was also booked for his felony warrant for violation of Post-Release Community Supervision.

The incident began when detectives with the Riverside Police Department’s Narcotic Unit developed information indicating that Elias was possibly at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula.

“Working closely together with personnel from the Pechanga Department of Public Safety, they were able to locate the suspect inside (the casino),” Riverside Public Information Officer Ryan Railsback explained in a press release.

“Due to safety concerns for the casino guests,” Narcotics Unit detectives worked with Pechanga’s Department of Public Safety “and conducted surveillance on the suspect until he left the casino property at about 3:00 p.m.,” said Railsback.

Detectives attempted to make contact with Elias as he left the casino; however the wanted man fled on a motorcycle into the surrounding neighborhoods.

As Elias fled from pursuing detectives he reached the end of a cul-de-sac where he “collided with the front of a police vehicle before jumping off his motorcycle and fleeing on foot,” said Railsback.

Despite fleeing on foot, officials apprehended Elias in the area of Kohinoor and Jon William Ways, south of the Redhawk Golf Course, in Temecula.

Elias was found to be in possession of 140 grams of methamphetamine and 13 grams of heroin, according to Railsback.

An online jail records search indicated Elias is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta Sept. 19.

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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.