July 14, 2023 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 12:15 p.m., the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the Coachella Community Action Team and the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team, served a search warrant at a residence located in the 83000 block of Beverly Court in Indio. Prior to the search warrant, Gang Task Force Officers and assisting deputies attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on a sedan observed leaving the residence. During that time, the driver of the sedan fled in the vehicle. A short pursuit ensued, after which time the suspect vehicle yielded, and three occupants were taken into custody. A passenger in the vehicle, later identified as documented criminal street gang member, Joshua Perez, 18, of Thousand Palms, was found to be in possession of a concealed loaded 9mm semi-auto handgun. The second passenger was a 16-year-old male and documented criminal street gang member. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Abraham Ruiz, 28, of Indio.

During the service of the search warrant at the residence, Gang Task Force Officers located a loaded, non-serialized .223 caliber AR pistol. The 16-year-old male, a previously convicted felon on active Riverside County Juvenile Probation, was determined to be the owner of the AR pistol.

Gang Task Force Officers charged Joshua Perez with possession of a loaded concealed firearm, child endangerment, and a gang member with a gun. Perez was subsequently booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. The 16-year-old male was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a non-serialized gun, gang member in possession of a firearm, and juvenile in possession of a firearm. He was subsequently booked at Juvenile Hall in Indio. Abraham Perez was charged with evading and was cited and released.

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force is committed to creating safe, secure neighborhoods free of violent crime and gang activity. If you have any information about this crime, please contact CVVCGTF member Deputy J. Chavez at (760) 836-1600. If you have non-emergency information regarding gang activity, please use our online Gang Task Force Tip Form or call 951-922-7601.

Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Paul Heredia

File # GE231940001

Source & photo: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office