COACHELLA: Couple driving stolen car arrested after officials find sawed-off rifle, drugs
COACHELLA — A man and woman were arrested at the conclusion of a traffic stop after officials found they were driving a stolen car and were in possession of an illegal, sawed-off rifle, ammunition, drugs, and narcotics paraphernalia, Thursday, Apr. 26. The traffic stop and arrest happened in the area of Vineta Lane and Genoa Street, northeast of Avenue 52 and Shady Lane, in Coachella.
Deputies arrested two people driving a stolen car who were found in possession of a sawed-off rifle, ammunition, and narcotics. RSO photo
After their arrest, Crystal Marie Beltran, 31, of Mecca, who had been driving the stolen car, and her passenger, Hector Hernandez, 27, of Coachella, were booked into Indio Jail, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Joe Narciso explained in a press release the day of the traffic stop and arrest.
As of this report jail records had not been updated to reflect the exact charges the couple was booked for.
A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy assigned to the Coachella Police Department conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a maroon,2001 Ford Focus, shortly before 1 p.m.
During the stop, the deputy determined the Ford had been reported stolen and both the driver and passenger were detained without incident for further investigation. During the subsequent investigation deputies determined Beltran was in possession of an illegal, sawed-off rifle and Hernandez was found to be in possession of a methamphetamine pipe.
Deputies also found ammunition and marijuana inside the vehicle, according to Narciso.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Lorton of the Coachella Police Department at (760) 863-8990. Callers can refer to incident file number Y181160019 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
A couple was arrested in a stolen vehicle after they were found to be in possession of a sawed-off rifle and narcotics. RSO booking photos
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Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and 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 as well as 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.