The Valley Chronicle - PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS - February 8th, 2018

Suspects arrested in robbery of bulldog puppy from owners

Following an investigation by Hemet police, two men have been arrested and jailed in connection with an armed robbery of a valuable English bulldog puppy that the Hemet owners had advertised for sale. Shortly after 5 p.m. on Jan. 16, police received what they described as a frantic “911” call from a citizen saying that she and her husband had been robbed at gunpoint by two men who had inquired about buying their 14-week-old English bulldog puppy advertised for sale. The owners of the puppy posted an ad for its sale and received a call from a man inquiring about the ad, police said. English bulldog puppies are among the most valuable breeds and go for hundreds of dollars. Two men later arrived at the victim’s residence in the 2000 block of Janae Way, Hemet, police said. The men started playing with the puppy but while discussing the purchase, one of the men ran out of the house still holding the puppy. The other man pointed a handgun at the victim and her husband, ordering both to stay inside. The suspect with the handgun then ran outside and got into the driver’s seat of a newer model white Toyota Camry with paper plates. Meanwhile, the other man, still holding the puppy, began running down the street. The victim’s husband ran after the puppy while the victim attempted to stop the driver from leaving in his vehicle, police said. The victim was so worried about the wellbeing of the puppy that she got into the passenger seat of the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect then drove off with the victim, traveling in the same direction as the other suspect holding the puppy who was running along the street away from the husband who was following. A neighbor heard the commotion and also started chasing after the man with the puppy, who eventually dropped the dog and continued running. The neighbor stopped to pick up the puppy to ensure it was unharmed at which point the husband diverted his attention to his wife who was still being driven away by the other man. The husband attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle by grabbing onto it as it slowed down, but the suspect accelerated causing the husband to fall to the ground, police said. The suspect drove the wife down the street to a nearby parking lot where the other suspect was now waiting. The wife was forced out of the vehicle by the men, and both suspects drove away, officers said. Hemet police conducted an areawide search immediately afterward but were unable to locate the suspect’s vehicle. However, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, they saw a vehicle matching that of the suspects’ that was being driven along Florida Avenue near the city limits. They conducted a traffic stop. Police approached the driver, who was uncooperative, and later was identified as Jorge Leos. After further investigation by Hemet detectives, Leos was identified as one of the suspects and was arrested on numerous charges. He was later transported to Riverside County Jail. On Tuesday, Jan. 30, through further investigation, Hemet Police detectives identified Alfonzo Leos, a relative of Leos, as the other suspect in this case. Alfonzo Leos was located in the city of La Puente and was arrested on numerous charges and later transported to Riverside County Jail. City officials and those familiar with the case credited Hemet Police patrol officers and detectives for their “excellent police work” in apprehending both men suspected of committing the armed robbery.

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Fatal traffic collision

On Friday, Feb. 2, at 11:52 p.m., deputies from the San Jacinto Police Department responded to a fatal traffic collision at the intersection of Ramona Boulevard and Lyon Avenue, according to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff/Coroner. The initial investigation indicated a Toyota Sienna was traveling north on Lyon, while a Honda Accord was traveling west on Ramona. The Honda Accord was traveling at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at the posted stop sign, according to deputies. It struck the Toyota Sienna at the intersection. All of the vehicle’s occupants were transported to area hospitals. One of the Sienna’s occupants later succumbed to her injuries. Her identity was withheld pending family notification. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the collision, deputies said, and the investigation is continuing. The intersection was closed for several hours during the investigation. The San Jacinto Police Department requests anyone having additional information regarding this incident to call Deputy Bechtold at 951-487-7352