Attacks On Hemet Gang Task Force

$100,000 reward proposed for leads in Hemet gang task force attack

10:28 AM PST on Friday, February 26, 2010
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
Riverside County supervisors will vote Tuesday whether to offer a reward of up to $100,000 for information in the attempted killing of gang detectives in Hemet.

County leaders proposed the idea after a booby trap was rigged to a rolling steel gate at the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force office. An altered firearm shot a bullet toward an officer entering the property Tuesday afternoon. The bullet missed by a few feet and was found 100 yards away.

Thursday, the Board of Supervisors added the proposal to its agenda after 3rd District Supervisor Jeff Stone, whose district includes Hemet, requested the reward.

If approved, it would be offered to anyone who comes forward with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. The money would be paid through the county's general fund.

"There's really a gang turf war going on in Hemet and the Gang Task Force is doing their best to make sure it's kept in control," said Verne Lauritzen, Stone's chief of staff. "When we have things like this, we can no longer stand by and watch it happen."

The attack was the second at the Gang Task Force office in recent months. On New Year's Eve, gang detectives arrived at work to find the office filled with natural gas from a gas line that had been rerouted overnight.

They detected the gas before stepping inside, potentially triggering an explosion.

Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said there have been no developments in the hunt for suspects.

The case is being investigated by Hemet police and members of the Gang Task Force, which is composed of detectives from the Hemet Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the district attorney's office and the parole and probation departments.

"The funny thing about rewards is, there's no honor among thieves. If there's money in giving up someone, they will," Wisehart said. "Our guys are obviously taking this a little bit personal and are invested in it."

You know what is? What it is is some hueros fed up with the down spiral in home prices down in that sewer plant stinky town and they got some huero who blames it on the homies down there and decided to mess with the juras and rile them up.. thats what i think it is.. anytime something is not going right in home prices they blame it on the "gangs" in the area!

Gun rigged to fire at Hemet gang task force members

11:05 PM PST on Wednesday, February 24, 2010
By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise
For the second time in recent months, Hemet gang detectives have been targeted in an assassination attempt, this time through a gun rigged to fire at officers as they arrived at work.

A member of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force stepped out of his car to open a rolling security gate at the task force office Tuesday afternoon when a bullet whizzed past within a few feet of him, Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart said. No one was injured.

An altered firearm had been set up as a booby trap attached to the fence around the office, which is off Florida Avenue near the Hemet police station, Wisehart said.

The incident happened about 1:30 p.m. It was the first time that day anyone had opened the gate, Wisehart said.

The bullet was recovered 100 yards away, in a nearby parking lot across Buena Vista Street, he said.

"It's getting to the point officers are more vigilant about their surroundings than ever before," Wisehart said. "This one was definitely close. It's a little unnerving."

The same building was targeted New Year's Eve by someone who rerouted a gas line that filled the office with natural gas. Police said the building could have exploded when someone stepped inside and turned on a light switch or caused static electricity.

No damage resulted. Officers opened the door, smelled natural gas and cleared the area, which was then ventilated.

Detectives investigating that incident were able to lift a fingerprint and DNA from the roof of the building. That is being studied .

Police said they suspect gang members were responsible in both cases, although the investigation has not been limited to gang members.

People whom the task force previously contacted or investigated will be examined to determine if they played a role in either act. No arrests have been made and no specific gangs or gang members have been linked to them.

There are no surveillance cameras on the property and police did not describe any additional security measures taken after the first attack, though the office was slated to move after the New Year's Eve incident. Officers remain at the site because a new building hasn't been found, Wisehart said.

Police did not receive any threats before either incident.

The first followed increased pressure being put on gangs throughout the San Jacinto Valley, but Wisehart said no additional enforcement had been going on.

About six officers work out of the location. The task force is made up of Hemet police officers, Riverside County sheriff's deputies, district attorney's investigators and parole and probation officers.

That's just crazy. Said the room could of blew up with the flip of the lightswitch.

I typically don't down no Town.. But Hemet.. that place reeks.. specially at night time!

Paid_in_full wrote:That's just crazy. Said the room could of blew up with the flip of the lightswitch.

shit came on the news n they said it couldve taken out up to 3 buildings.. thats sum crazy shit

CBxBOY32 wrote:

Paid_in_full wrote:That's just crazy. Said the room could of blew up with the flip of the lightswitch.

shit came on the news n they said it couldve taken out up to 3 buildings.. thats sum crazy shit

there's the PROOF ~> only a man with prior military skills can put together a device like that.. ~> not a homie from the calles of Hemet

wolfman wrote:

CBxBOY32 wrote:

Paid_in_full wrote:That's just crazy. Said the room could of blew up with the flip of the lightswitch.

shit came on the news n they said it couldve taken out up to 3 buildings.. thats sum crazy shit

there's the PROOF ~> only a man with prior military skills can put together a device like that.. ~> not a homie from the calles of Hemet

yupp they had to know exactly wut theyre doing.. same thing with the cuete on the fence

wolfman wrote:

CBxBOY32 wrote:

Paid_in_full wrote:That's just crazy. Said the room could of blew up with the flip of the lightswitch.

shit came on the news n they said it couldve taken out up to 3 buildings.. thats sum crazy shit

there's the PROOF ~> only a man with prior military skills can put together a device like that.. ~> not a homie from the calles of Hemet

That's what I was going to say. Whoever it was, they wasn't stupid. It would take a bit of knowledge and skill to pull this type of shit off.