BLYTHE - After months of investigation, Blythe Police Officers were able to arrest nine people in connection with the burglaries that occurred between June 28-Sept. 29 on the south side area of Blythe.
Charles Richardson, 29, Steven Gregory Williams, 47, Jeffrey Rockmore, 41, Frank Watkins 24, Cedric Brookins, 18, and four juveniles, all of Blythe, were arrested in a joint effort by local law enforcement seeking an end to the months of homes being burglarized.
During the investigations and with assistance from alert Blythe Police patrol officers and other department members, Det. Tim Cornwell learned that the burglaries committed shared the same M.O. (modus operandi).
Due to anonymous tips from concerned citizens, and several inquiries the detective identified a local gang called the "Goon Squad" as the possible perpetrators for some of the crimes.
It was also discovered that the "Goon Squad" boasted at least 20 members, both juveniles and adults.
Enough evidence was gathered in the last several months that lead to search warrants for four residences in Blythe. Last Thursday morning, with assistance from Riverside County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Border Patrol agents and California Highway Patrol officers, each of the search warrants were served simultaneously.
As a result of the searches, stolen property was located and the four juveniles ages 14-17 years old were arrested.
Police officials reported, Brookins was also arrested for possession of stolen property and Williams was arrested for an outstanding warrant. Both were booked into Blythe Jail.
In the meantime, Richardson's home, located in the 12000 block of W. Riverside Dr., was being watched by Sgt. Angel Ramirez.
Richardson is believed to have involvement in the "Goon Squad."
During Ramirez's surveillance, he noticed that several large containers were being loaded onto a trailer attached to a dark SUV. Richardson and two passengers got into the vehicle and drove away.
Believing that Richardson may have been attempting to move some stolen property, Ramirez had Officer Scott Adams stop the vehicle.
After Adams searched the vehicle, stolen property was found in one of the containers. At this point, Richardson and the two passengers - Watkins and Rockmore - were arrested for possession of stolen property. They were taken to Blythe Police Department for further investigation.
Rockmore was released pending further investigation while Richardson and Watkins were booked into Blythe Jail.
Due to the stolen property found on the vehicle, Cornwell got a search warrant for Richardson's home. Additional stolen property linked to the south side burglaries was found.
"This type of operation takes many days and hours of investigating, planning and preparation," said Blythe Police Chief Steve Smith. "It is not like on TV where a case is investigated, solved and people taken to jail in a 30-minute episode. There are also many hours of report writing and booking evidence."
Bikes recovered
While the search warrants were being acted on, Blythe Police received a report that a young male was sighted in the 400 block of N. Acacia and that the juvenile did not live in the neighborhood but was seen removing a bike from a yard on the street.
Officer Sean Burt found the suspect nearby after the caller lost sight of the youngster and another juvenile was also found; both identified as local kids, an 11-year-old and a 15-year old, both of Blythe.
While officers were speaking with the two juveniles, a resident of N. Acacia reported that two of their bikes had been stolen.
The bikes were found and returned to the owner. Burt's investigation revealed that the juveniles were indeed involved in the theft of the bikes.
The 11-year-old and 15-year-old were released to their parents and the case has been sent to Juvenile Probation.
Stolen gun found on juvenile
Officer Servando Iniguez was patrolling Blythe around midnight on Oct. 23, when he noticed a 15-year-old juvenile walking west in the 200 block of W. Hobsonway. Iniguez had previous run-ins with the youth so he approached him for violation of the city's curfew ordinance.
According to reports, the juvenile ignored the officer's initial order to stop but eventually stopped after several requests from the officer. At this time the youngster was searched and a loaded weapon and ammunition were found on his person.
After transporting the juvenile to Blythe Police Department, a weapon check disclosed that the firearm was reported stolen from a residence in the 300 block of Alice Lane on Sept. 23.
The juvenile was arrested for possession of stolen property and carrying a loaded firearm. He was taken to the Indio Juvenile Hall.
"I am very proud of all involved in this operation and very pleased with the outcome," said Smith. "Stolen property was recovered and those responsible went to jail, that's how it should work
"Our police department is working short-handed so other cases got put on the back burner to handle this operation but we will be back on the other cases now."
Smith also expressed a special thanks to Riverside County Sheriff's Office, U.S. Border Patrol and California Highway Patrol for working with the Blythe P.D. as a team.
"Their assistance played a big part in the swift and safe execution of the search warrants," said Smith.
The chief also reminded the public to call the Police Department and report any suspicious activity in their neighborhood.
"The sooner information is received the sooner they can begin to investigate," Smith said.
"The public can play a major role in assisting us in solving crime and keeping Blythe a safe place."
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
Google_myNoogle.com
OMG.... I just googled Kizzy and Shanizzy and all that popped up was a old food stamp. I guess they were caught trying to buy night crawlers at B & B Bait shop with food stamps. Wait... another one just popped up! They were also sited for attempting to purchase the BUY RITE on the southside with $346 in foodstamps ,2 steaks,
a roll of 4lb test fishing line and a bottle of Steele Reserve. Silly Goose
Posted: Monday, November 09, 2009
Article comment by:
jj
i know those people
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009
Article comment by:
Just me
Thats so sad blythe is a hell hold for alot of young kids. It has really changed but still need to be cleaned up. The drugs and e.t.c. But a few down and more to go good job.
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009
Article comment by:
NOT a product of pvhs
wow.. i am SO amazed.. the grammer used in these comments should be proof enough that the palo verde school district is NOT doing it's best to educate the students... i just can't believe how dumb almost EVERYONE on here sounds..
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
James Mcmasters
Googler, shut the (deleted) up. You are a moron. How can you say my name doesn't exist because you simply googled my name. My God, Blythe is never short of retards that's for sure
Site Administrator's note: A portion of this comment has been removed because it violated our Terms of use Agreement.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
QWZZZZY AND SMAWIKWWIA ARE NOW LAWYERS. THEY KNOW THE LAW.
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
qwzzy and qwuisanikwaa shut the freak up and go back to ghetto high school and get a life stop talking your freaking nonsence!!!!!!!
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009
Article comment by:
Googler
I googled Kaniesha and a picture of James McMaster showed up ...and he doesn't even exist, just try googling him!
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
James McMasters
And how in the (deleted) are you supposed to find me on google you retard?? Are you really that (deleted) stupid?? My guess is that you are. So you googled my name and all of a sudden you come up with results since I am so (deleted) famous huh? You came to the final determination that my name is "fake" because you googled it? WTF???? Stupid, ignorant, (deleted)!!! Try some education for a change. And I don't live in that (deleted). I am in Corona. Comeover here andspread the love. Or shall I say the fat! Nasty looking (deleted)!
Site Administrator's note: A portion of this comment has been removed because it violated our Terms of use Agreement.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
Hardest_smalltown>around! Yeah Right
Can anyone tell me what's going on? Why are people talking about "MEAT" or "BEEF" with each other. Also...What is "HOMIE" and who is this "BOO" character you people talk about? Is someone serving Catfish? Are these people real?
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
kizzy and kaniesha im not the fighting type but i got something that would make yall (deleted) shut up. If i was yall i would shut the (deleted) up
Site Administrator's note: A portion of this comment has been removed because it violated our Terms of use Agreement.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
me niesha
James McMasters
this is not your real name i google it came too you on some real (deleted) ..your so fake if you wanna handle this like a child i treat you like one boo.. you could name call all you want words have never hurt me. so as far as you puting your real name it dont even matter to me this (deleted) is so beneath me .. it's obviously you got a beef with me it's ashame how one could have a beef with the other person left in the dark about it address me like a real woman or man it got to be a girl cause a real man shouldnt have time to sit on a computer and gossip ...Why you worried about how i spell my name ... i got a few clues as to who this is it's only a few pople that made odd comments on the way my name is spelled ... so next time get ya facts together go ask my mama how to spell my name ...
Site Administrator's note: A portion of this comment has been removed because it violated our Terms of use Agreement.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
her name is spelled kizzy mr. smartie pants not kizzzy
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
u dont no me
to all u morons bloggin u dont no who it is so jus shut up and quit making urself look more stupid & ignorant than u r.
Posted: Friday, November 06, 2009
Article comment by:
No name provided
Damn you speak on Katfish like your him and as far as his homie's going to jail tell me which one you do that and just stop talking on the web page please this makes no sense at all everyone has something to say damn and you keep saying he asked face to take the blame wow you too much where that come from face is a grown as man and he aint broke in knowbody house either so go to hell and to the female that keep saying she is a man you are try'n to hard to make people belive you are a man wow none of they people in his circle will not be on here typing so god is love
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