RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Felony Witness Intimidation
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| Station Area: | Banning |
| Written Date: | January 7, 2021 | Time: | 8:30 PM |
| Incident Date: | January 7, 2021 | Time: | 7:30 PM |
| Incident Location: | 500 block East Repplier Road, Banning
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| Reporting Officer: | Sgt. Mike Bennett, Region 2 Gang Task Force
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| File Number(s): | GB2100070001
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Details:
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| Ruben Bates |
In December of 2020, Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force Officers from Region 2 assisted Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Cabazon station with a gang related attempt homicide. Several days after the attempt homicide, Gang Task Force Officers discovered the victims in the case were being threatened to not cooperate in the investigation. Gang Task Force Officers were able to positively identify Ruben Bates, a forty-eight year old resident from the city of Banning, as the suspect in the witness intimidation case. Bates is also a documented criminal street gang member. On January 7, 2021, Gang Task Force Officers responded to the 500 block of East Repplier Road in the city of Banning and arrested Bates for witness intimidation. Bates was booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility for Witness Intimidation.
The Riverside County Gang Task Force is a collaborative effort of several law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs. The San Gorgonio Special Operations Regional Gang Task Force is one of six teams which compose the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force. The San Gorgonio Special Operations Gang Task Force is staffed with members from the Banning Police Department, Beaumont Police Department and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
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