HEMET: $1 million bail for suspected police impersonator, officials seek additional victims
HEMET — Authorities are seeking possible victims of a Hemet felon believed to have been impersonating a police officer throughout the southern Riverside County area. The man was in possession of weapons and ammunition when he was arrested in Hemet, Saturday morning, Aug. 11.
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In addition to being in possession of weapons at the time of his arrest, sheriff’s officials say Jeovanny Misael Landeros, 24, of Hemet, was in possession of a law enforcement badge as well as other law enforcement equipment, “indicating he may have impersonated a law enforcement officer in the past,” Riverside Sheriff’s officials said in a social media post after Landeros’ arrest on Saturday.
Sheriff’s officials impounded Landeros’ 2012 Mercedes after his arrest Saturday morning, which they say had been outfitted with flashing red and blue LED lights. RSO photo
Additionally, officials allege Landeros’ white, 2015 Mercedes-Benz was equipped with red and blue flashing LED lights they say was “likely used” while pulling over and contacting unsuspecting victims while posing as a law enforcement officer.
Investigators believe Landeros may have used the items to commit crimes and according to sheriff’s officials, these alleged crimes “may have gone unnoticed by Landeros’ potential victims.”
Jail records indicate Landeros was arrested at an E. Fruitvale address in Hemet around noon and was later booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of being a felon in possession of an assault rifle, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and child endangerment.
Landeros remains in custody on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, Aug. 15.
In addition to more than a half-dozen traffic cases in Riverside County in the past five years, Landeros was arrested in 2013 for assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, domestic battery, battery resulting in great bodily injury, making criminal threats, and vandalism. He was also arrested in 2014 for assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats.
In total, Landeros has been sentenced in Riverside County to just 180 days incarceration in county jail.
Sheriff’s officials are now asking the public to come forward if they believe they were ever contacted by Landeros while portraying himself as a law enforcement officer.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who believes they may have been victimized by Landeros is encouraged to call Investigator Alfaro or Investigator Manjarrez at (951) 955-1700. Callers can refer to incident file number D182140054 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, recently moved to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and The Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 14 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.
Trevor, being a retired LEO this has got to piss you off to no end! LEO’S are doing their jobs and the courts only giving him 180 days for all these assault charges…..grr! Hopefully more people will step forward and put this POS away for awhile. He is escalating in his crimes.
Yes Alexandria, it is so incredibly frustrating for officers. I can’t tell you how many times people were back out of jail hours or even days before I was done with my report. And we always had criminals who we called “frequent fliers,” people who we would end up arresting over and over again, often for the same crimes. Our current system is irreparably broken because of our ridiculously liberal judges.
-TM
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