Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown speaks during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. Local and federal authorities arrested 24 people and seized 77 firearms and 4 pounds of narcotics during raids Thursday morning; 23 people had been arrested previously. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown walks past a board of mug shots as he begins a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Sound The gallery will resume in seconds

A poster featuring mug shots of some of the suspects identified as part of Operation Valley Vigilance is displayed at a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, in the Hemet City Council chambers. The seven-month operation led to dozens of arrests. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin speaks during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Hemet City Council chambers announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown called raids carried out Thursday, June 29, 2017, the “largest single-day joint takedown in the (San Jacinto) Valley’s history and the history of southwest Riverside County.” The arrests were the culmination of a seven-month investigation by a regional gang task force. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG



Some of the firearms seized or sold to undercover officers during “Operation Valley Vigilance” are on display in the Hemet City Council chambers during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of the seven-month investigation. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Some of the firearms seized or sold to undercover officers during “Operation Valley Vigilance” are on display in the Hemet City Council chambers during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of the seven-month investigation. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Some of the firearms seized or sold to undercover officers during “Operation Valley Vigilance” are on display in the Hemet City Council chambers during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of the seven-month investigation. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Some of the firearms seized or sold to undercover officers during “Operation Valley Vigilance” are on display in the Hemet City Council chambers during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of the seven-month investigation. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Some of the firearms seized or sold to undercover officers during “Operation Valley Vigilance” are on display in the Hemet City Council chambers during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of the seven-month investigation. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG



Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, right, speaks during a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Hemet City Council chambers announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown is all smiles after a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

From left, Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, U.S. Border Patrol Watch Commander David Sominski and Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown talk after a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Hemet. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, left, and Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin smile as they leave a news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, in Hemet City Council chambers. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG

Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown, left enjoys a laugh with colleagues after news conference Thursday, June 29, 2017, announcing the results of a seven-month investigation conducted by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. TERRY PIERSON,THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE/SCNG



A seven-month crackdown on gang and weapons activity in the San Jacinto Valley has resulted in the arrest of 47 people, including suspects in at least three homicides, authorities announced Thursday, June 29.

Related Articles July 1, 2017 These are the 6 remaining suspects from Hemet/San Jacinto-area ‘takedown’

“Operation Valley Vigilance” culminated Thursday morning with a series of raids that Hemet Police Chief Dave Brown called the “largest single-day joint takedown in the (San Jacinto) Valley’s history and the history of southwest Riverside County.”

Almost 400 law enforcement officers from city, county, state and federal agencies descended on 58 locations in Hemet, San Jacinto and surrounding areas, Brown said. They arrested 24 people and seized 77 firearms and 4 pounds of narcotics.

Another 23 people were arrested previously during the operation. Six suspects in various crimes remain at large.

The operation was led by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. They were not focused on any one criminal organization, authorities said.

“This operation is focused on reducing crime and violence in our community, targeting organized crime, wanted felons and weapons and drug traffickers operating in and around the city of Hemet,” Brown said. “Operation Valley Vigilance is part of a larger county-wide effort to rid our county of crime and violence.”

Brown stood flanked by multiple other law enforcement officials during a news conference at Hemet City Council chambers. The arsenal of weapons seized or sold to undercover investigators during the operation was laid out on tables in front of them.

Role in murder cases

The arrests in the murder cases had been previously announced, but authorities described Thursday how the Gang Impact Team played a role.

Brothers Manuel Sandoval Olaez, 23, and Moses Daniel Olaez, 20, both of Hemet, were arrested in April in the shooting death of Daniel Ramirez last November. A teenager also was wounded.

Brown said that Moses Sandoval Olaez unwittingly sold a 30-caliber rifle to investigators on the team.

“A forensic examination … confirmed it was the weapon used in the homicide,” Brown said.

Both brothers have been charged with murder, attempted murder and participating in criminal street gang activity, and have pleaded not guilty.

Alfredo Abran Esqueda, 26, charged with murder in the Jan. 6 shooting death of his sister, Josefina Esqueda, 24, was arrested by the Gang Impact Team in Los Angeles County, Brown said. He has pleaded not guilty.

Edwardo Stultz, 24, of Cathedral City was one of two suspects arrested in connection with a fatal Desert Hot Springs shooting on Dec. 13. He too has denied the murder charge he faces.

“Just a few hours after the murder, (the Gang Impact Team) was able to identify the suspect using the enormous network of resources and intelligence available to this team,” Brown said.

Wanted suspects

Most of the arrests made during the operation had to do with weapons.

Of the six outstanding suspects, the only one identified Thursday was Amy Silva. Her mug shot was displayed on a poster set up at the news conference.

Brown said Silva is a San Jacinto Valley street gang associate who has been arrested more than 15 times in cases related to auto theft, narcotics trafficking and firearms.

“During this operation, Silva sold two firearms, a stolen handgun and an assault rifle, along with a quarter pound of methamphetamine to undercover agents,” the chief said.

Authorities didn’t respond to a request for information on the other suspects at large.

Measure U connection

Brown was asked during the news conference whether the operation was the “first fruits” of Measure U, a 1 percentage point sales tax increase that voters approved in November. Its revenue, estimated at $10 million per year, will be split between the city’s police and fire departments.

“This operation began, certainly as the DA said, before Measure U was approved,” Brown said. “But our ability to participate in this team and our ongoing commitment to this team, and this effort, will certainly be enhanced by the passage of Measure U and the revenue that will create for the Police Department.”

Eric Gosch is a member of a committee tasked with overseeing how Hemet spends Measure U revenue. He said the gang task force-related enforcement was something that was promised when the measure was proposed and he would like to see part of the funding spent that way going forward.

Gosch praised the seven-month operation.

“I think it’s a great sign of cooperation between all the departments and I look forward to their continued focus on the valley for improving the safety of our citizens,” he said.

Raids cause a stir

On social media Thursday morning, San Jacinto Valley residents described witnessing raids that included armored vehicles and a battering ram.

Daren Webster, 58, who lives near Hemet, said he was making a left turn from Chambers Street onto State Street and saw orange cones blocking westbound traffic from going past the intersection. Signs advised that police operation was taking place.

He said he saw 15-20 police vehicles and an RV that said Homeland Security sitting in a fenced-off portion of Diamond Valley Middle School’s parking lot.

“I saw a lot of black and white, and I go, ‘This is not normal,'” Webster said.

Agencies in the Gang Impact Team include the DA’s Office, Hemet Police Department, Palm Springs Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“This team started small but has gone on and grown and accomplished great things,” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said at the news conference.

The U.S. Marshals Service and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which are not part of the task force, also assisted in Thursday’s arrests.

Riverside County Supervisor Chuck Washington, whose district includes the San Jacinto Valley, praised Brown and Hestrin on Thursday for their work and dedication.

“The fight doesn’t end here,” Washington said. “This is just part of it.”

Staff writer Brian Rokos contributed to this report.