Nearly 20 weapons & drugs seized in Indio gun sales investigation – 4 arrested

INDIO, Calif., — Authorities say that multiple investigations into recent reports of illegal firearms sales in Indio and throughout the Coachella Valley led to a number of search warrants and arrests over the last two weeks.

The joint operation, which involved US Customs and Border Protection, also led to the discovery and seizure of nearly 20 firearms, a wide variety of ammunition, numerous high capacity magazines – which are illegal to own or possess in California, and a ballistic vest, as well as narcotics, paraphernalia and indicia of drug sales.

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“Over the last month, the Indio Police Street Crimes Unit has been investigating reports of illegal firearms sales in Indio and the surrounding cities within the Coachella Valley,” Indio PD said in a recent social media release.

During those investigations, detectives began to gather information and develop leads that ultimately led them to identifying several potential suspects.

Search warrants related to multiple gun sales investigations uncovered nearly twenty firearms, including nine rifles, one shotgun and eight handguns. Indio PD photos

“On July 7th and July 15th, 2021, search warrants were conducted by Indio Police Detectives at residences within the Coachella Valley,” officials explained. “As a result of the search warrants, several firearms were confiscated.”

Photographs later shared by Indio Police Department showed nearly 20 firearms, including nine rifles, one shotgun and eight handguns.

Four suspects, whose names were not released, were arrested as part of the investigation and were all booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on various weapon violations, including illegal transportation and sales of firearms, according to Indio PD.

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“Excellent work by our Indio PD Detectives!”, officials said in their post; adding, “We would also like to thank the US Customs and Border Protection team for their assistance with this investigation.”



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Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.