The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle - July 12th, 2019

Page 1

B

Project Gilman Springs Road | Page B2

Weather: 102o/70o | Volume 01 | Issue 06

C

July 4th Parade and Festival | Page C2

Friday, July 12 -18, 2019

B POLITICS

D

Life is purrfect with a kitten | Page D2

www.HSJChronicle.com |

| $1.00 (Tax Incl.)

D THE 7 ARTS

C VALLEY BEAT

Have your cake and eat it too

New season of concerts at HHT

Growing up Hillbilly Ch.8 Rusty Strait

See more on page B1

See more on page C1

See more on page D1

Andrew F. Kotyuk

Susan Carrier

Fighting against alcohol-related crime City of Hemet awarded important grant from alcoholic beverage commission

SOBOBA BAND OF LUISEÑO INDIANS

Soboba hosts Indigenous Bowl

MIKE HILES | CONTRIBUTED

T

he Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians hosted Native American football players. Coaches and referees from 12 states and Manitoba, Canada, spent a few days at the

See SOBOBA on page A4

We have some amazing talent within our own communities that have volunteered their time to share with these athletes, and help propel them to the next level, which includes pairing their athleticism with scholastic goals."

MARK LENTINE | STAFF WRITER

C

ity of Hemet Police Chief Robert Webb has announced that the Hemet Police Department (HPD) has been awarded an important $51,104.00 grant from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), to battle alcohol-related crime. “This is important to the city of Hemet in order to increase protection of our youth in relation to under-age alcohol consumption, and to shut down problem locations that have contributed to an increase in alcohol-related crime,” said Chief Webb. Lieutenant Eric Dickson of the HPD was quick to point out that this grant is one of only 49 awarded in California to local law-enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcoholic Police and Partnership (APP) program. “ The police department here in Hemet is very proactive in seeking grants to help combat crime,“ said Dickson adding, “While we very much appreciate the grants from, and our partnership with, the state of California’s Office of Traffic Safety, this ABC grant, which runs from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020, will aid us greatly in curtailing alcohol and driving-related problems.” The ABC grant took time to vet and intensive investigation in its preparation. “The HPD’s “Restoring Our Community Strategy” team or ROCS, utilized the talents of Detective Craig Willison who investigated the information used in the grant and he also drafted the proposal. The entire process was overseen by ROCS Sergeant Michael Arellano,” said Dickson. The city of Hemet has gotten OTS grants for a number of years, but this is only the second ABC grant the city has received. Dickson notes that while OTS Grants are more geared to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses, this ABC grant is more geared toward illegal purchases and toward liquor stores themselves and is a large part of the HPD‘s efforts to build a partnership with the ABC. “This grant is an import-

Soboba Indian Reservation near San Jacinto. The all-star athletes participated in a training camp leading up to the second annual 7G Foundation Indigenous Bowl. Two teams were formed after about 40 players were evaluated

BENNAE CALAC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE 7G FOUNDATION

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

360 X Self-Defense in Hemet will be hosting the kick-off event MARK LENTINE | CONTRIBUTED

T

his Saturday, July 13, from 12 PM to 2 PM, 360 X Self-Defense in Hemet will be hosting the kick-off event of the Riverside County Gun Owners (RCGO) PAC. RCGO members will listen to a speech given by incoming Sheriff Chad

Bianco on the nature of the (Concealment and Carrying of Weapons (CCW) laws and procedures. "I am a strong supporter of both parts of The Second Amendment: the right to both keep and bear arms. I believe that every law-abiding citizen,

See KICK-OFF on page A2

GILMAN SPRINGS

Is it going to make a difference? More construction coming to Gilman Springs KYLE HEADLEE | STAFF WRITER

G

ilman Springs Highway, commonly referred to as Death Road or the Highway to Hell, is not because the road itself is dangerous, but some people who drive on it are. Presumably, because they are driving intoxicated, tired, or in too much of a hurry, it seems like every couple days there

See GRANT on page A5

is another accident on the highway, and many of them turn out to be fatal. Some people get too impatient trying to get to work, get home, or get tired of looking at the same set of brake lights in front of them. No matter the reason, it is never an excuse to drive irresponsibly on any road or on that particular highway. With so many blind turns, there

See GILMAN on page A2

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998

MAN FATALLY SHOT IN EAST HEMET

Homeowner Acts in Self-Defense Intoxicated Man Killed by Homeowner After Causing Trouble and Allegedly Trying to Break In FIDEL VILLALOBOS III | STAFF WRITER

O

n Wednesday, June 26, a man was fatally shot in an unincorporated area of East Hemet. The victim was said to be breaking into a residence when the shooting occurred. The homeowner, who happened to be armed, shot the man in self-defense. The shooting took place in the 26000 block of Plymouth Street. Witnesses have stated that the victim was intoxicated before breaking into the home. They also stated that the man was causing trouble in the surrounding area before the incident took place. The Hemet Police Department was the first to arrive on the scene, answering a burglary in progress call. Sgt. Rick Espinoza, of the Riverside Sheriff ’s Central Homicide Unit, was among the deputies that closed off the street and surrounded the home where the shooting occurred. The Central Homicide Unit began their investigation, which included assistance from Coroner members, as well as the de-

Selena

July 18

partment’s Forensic Services Bureau. Espinoza stated, “A suspect broke into the residence, which was occupied by a family. The suspect was confronted by an armed homeowner and a shooting occurred, which resulted in the death of the suspect”. He continued, saying, “There were no injuries sustained by the residents of the home, and there are no outstanding suspects or threats to public safety.” Officials determined that the homeowner had possibly acted in self-defense, and Espinoza commented, “No arrests have been made at this time, and the deceased suspect’s name will not be released at this time pending the ongoing investigation”. (Trevor Montgomery, Riverside County News Source). This is the second self-defense shooting case in Hemet in the last month. On June

12, a man was fatally shot in the Lake Hemet Campgrounds. Investigators declared that a man acted in self-defense when he shot another man who he claimed had attacked him in his trailer, striking him on the head with a rock. Residents of the San Jacinto Valley, we must take precautionary action, and keep the knowledge of our self-defense laws at the forefront of our minds at all times. Although these two recent cases were, in fact, self-defense, many people can misperceive exactly what self-defense is, as defined by our laws. Section 505 of California’s Criminal Jury Instructions states the guidelines that a defendant must follow, to successfully argue

See FATALLY SHOT on page A2

No arrests have been made at this time and the deceased suspect’s name will not be released at this time pending the ongoing investigation” SGT. RICK ESPINOZA

RIVERSIDE SHERIFF’S CENTRAL HOMICIDE UNIT

see on


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.