Entire county to be locked down at 6 PM after violence-related curfew ordered
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — In the wake of waves of violence and unrest that ripped through Riverside County overnight county officials have proclaimed a local emergency and set a countywide curfew for tonight from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The order was signed today by County Executive Officer and Director of Emergency Services George Johnson, in coordination with law enforcement officials, and applies to all cities and unincorporated areas.
A patrol car burns after rioters set fire to it during overnight violence that swept throughout the state. OC Hawk photo
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“The curfew is in response to several areas of rioting and looting in Southern California over the weekend, as well as planned protests set to occur today in Riverside County,” county officials explained today.
Today’s emergency proclamation and curfew order followed the day after waves of overnight violence, rioting, and looting swept through Riverside County. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
“We want the community to be able to peacefully assemble and exercise their first amendment rights,” said Johnson. “We must also take action to protect our community from threats of rioting and chaos. If you plan to visit a protest today, we urge you to do so peacefully and return home at the time of the curfew.”
The curfew, which is intended to prevent any potential acts of destruction and violence at protest sites, will expire Tuesday morning at 6 a.m. and will not apply to residents who must leave their homes to attend essential work or business after 6 p.m.
Residents throughout the region began receiving emergency phone alerts shortly after this afternoon’s announcement and the sheriff’s department issued releases across all forms of social media. Other area law enforcement agencies followed suit, issuing their own orders and social media releases shortly thereafter.
According to the alert, those seeking or providing medical care, credentialed media, and homeless persons sheltering in place are not included in the lock down order.
“The County has implemented this curfew for the safety of law enforcement, businesses and the public at large due to the potential of rioting,” Wildomar Mayor Dustin Nigg said in response to the curfew order. “The City of Wildomar stands 100% behind the County’s decision to impose this curfew.”
“Everyone please stay home and stay safe,” Nigg continued.
Any violation of the curfew is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to six (6) months in jail, a fine of up to one thousand ($1,000) dollars, or both.
Many businesses throughout the county spent the day cleaning up broken glass, assessing property damage, and taking stock of their losses. Others have begun to preemptively prepare for potential violence tonight and business owners and employees could be seen throughout the day boarding up windows and doors and taking other measure to protect their properties.
Businesses such as Hemet’s Shoe City spent the day cleaning up broken glass and debris from last night’s violence, and have been preemptively boarding up their windows and doors. Eddie George/Hemet News photo
Law enforcement will continue to serve the community by conducting patrols and responding to calls for service and Public health officials also reminded the community that while gathering for peaceful protests, “community members should wear a face covering and maintain six feet between others to thwart the spread of coronavirus.”
Members of the public can call 2-1-1 for more information.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and 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 29 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 16 grandchildren.
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