Suspect Arrested in Theft of Agricultural Products
November 10, 2024 – Riverside County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on Monday, November 4, 2024, deputies from 
the Thermal Sheriff’s Station East Rural Crime Team received information regarding an advertisement on social media for stolen agricultural products. Deputies assumed the investigation and learned the agricultural products had been stolen from a local farming company. During the investigation, deputies identified the suspect as 19-year-old Walter Ernesto Barrera Hernandez, a resident of Mecca.
On November 7, 2024, at 8:39 p.m., the East Rural Crime Team, District Team, and Coachella Community Action Teams served a search warrant at Barrera Hernandez’s residence located in the 91–400 block of 3rd Street in the unincorporated community of Mecca. During the warrant service, agricultural products related to this investigation were recovered from the residence. Barrera Hernandez was arrested and booked into John Benoit Detention Center for felony agricultural theft.
This is an ongoing investigation, and no additional details are available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Pasch at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863-8990.
Reporting Supervisor: Sergeant Ernestina Contreras
File # C243100019
Source: Riverside County Sheriff’s Office
