Three suspects arrested and stolen firearms recovered

Published: 7/4/2017

Riverside, CA – On July 4, 2017 at 1135 hours, the Riverside Police Department Communications Center received a call regarding subjects at a residence in the 4000 block of Sequoia Street using a torch to cut open a large safe in the side yard.  While officers were responding to the location, the reporting party advised the subjects were removing handguns from the safe.  As officers were preparing to approach the residence in question, a vehicle drove by the officers with one of the suspects believed to be involved in removing handguns from the safe, in the passenger seat.  An investigative stop was conducted on that vehicle and the passenger was found to be in possession of a handgun. While on the vehicle traffic stop, officers also found what appeared to be a hand grenade and an additional nine (9) firearms in the trunk.  Police Detectives from the Technical Services Unit later responded to the scene and determined the grenade was inert and not currently a threat to the neighborhood.    

When officers arrived on scene at the Sequoia Street residence, they safely detained the occupants.  A safety sweep was conducted of the residence, and while sweeping the outside of the residence, a large gun safe which appeared to have been forced open was located, as well as another safe which was still locked.  Officers also located six (6) additional handguns in a backpack, which had been concealed in a trashcan on the property.  The safes, handguns and other stolen property found on scene were determined to have been taken during a residential burglary that occurred hours earlier in 4300 block of Tyler Street.  

In all, three suspects were arrested, 30 year old Carlos Romero and 45 year old Jesus Dominguez, both transients, and 26 year old Christian Ruffin, a Riverside resident.  Both Romero and Dominguez were arrested for 496 PC- Receiving Stolen Property, 182 PC- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime and 29800 (a) PC- Felon in Possession of a handgun. Dominguez was also charged with 3455 PC- Parole Violation.  Ruffin was arrested for 182 PC- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime.  All three suspects were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center.    

** P17119986 & P17120062 **

Contact:

Lieutenant Dan Hoxmeier

Watch Commander

(951) 351-6050

Lieutenant Carl Hardin

Central Area Commander

(951) 353 - 7965