Multi-agency fentanyl sales investigation in Hemet leads to fatal officer and deputy involved shooting

HEMET, Calif., — Although details are still emerging, authorities confirmed this morning that a handgun-wielding man who fled from officers and deputies was fatally shot late Tuesday evening, Jan. 18.

The deadly shooting occurred during a multi-agency fentanyl sales-related investigation at the Hemet Travelodge Hotel, located in the 2600 block of W. Florida Avenue in Hemet, according to officials.

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Last night’s fatal incident happened while deputies and officers from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office-Gang Impact Team (GIT) were conducting surveillance of a man suspected of distributing fentanyl throughout the area, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Brandi Swan has since said of the deadly shooting.

At around 11:36 p.m., GIT officials attempted to contact the suspect but he fled on foot through the parking lot, according to Swan; who said that the man was seen armed with a firearm as he fled from pursuing officials.

“Attempts to disarm him by using less-lethal munitions were not successful, which led to a deputy and officer-involved shooting,” the Sergeant explained; saying the suspect was struck by the gunfire.

GIT officials immediately began life-saving measures and requested additional medical assistance to the scene; however, the suspect ultimately succumbed to his injuries and passed away in the parking lot.

The alleged suspect’s firearm was found and recovered after the deadly encounter and the man’s name has not been released, pending notification of his family.

Swan went on to say that three agencies, including the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, along with the Hemet and Riverside Police departments, were directly involved in the shooting. The involved officers have been placed on paid administrative leave per their department policies and their names have not yet been released.

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An investigator from the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office will lead this investigation, aided by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Force Investigations Detail.

Their investigation is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Riverside County District Attorney Investigator Felipe Munoz at (951) 922-7624 or Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigator Dan Moody at (951) 955-2777. Callers can refer to incident file number MB220190001 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.