RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Vehicle Pursuit / Narcotics and Weapons Violation
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| Station Area: | Blythe |
| Written Date: | October 21, 2021 | Time: | 9:22 AM |
| Incident Date: | October 20, 2021 | Time: | 1:56 PM |
| Incident Location: | Interstate 10 and Corn Springs Road, Blythe
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| Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Ed Reynoso
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| File Number(s): | A212930021
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Details:
On October 20, 2021 at 1:56 PM, the Colorado River Station Special Enforcement Team (SET) initiated a traffic enforcement stop on westbound Interstate 10 at Corn Springs Road for a California Vehicle Code violation. The vehicle failed to yield, and the occupants of the vehicle, later identified as Seferino Benjamin Grajeda, 43, of Burbank, CA, and Cesar Octavio Lopez Velazquez, 35, of Medford, Oregon, began throwing suspected narcotics (fentanyl pills) out of the windows as it traveled westbound on the interstate. A pursuit was initiated and continued westbound at speeds ranging between 30-85 mph. The vehicle yielded on the interstate west of the Highway 177 Desert Center interchange where Grajeda and Velazquez were taken into custody without further incident. A search of the vehicle, incident to arrest, yielded additional narcotics and a firearm. A search of the interstate was also conducted, and the discarded narcotics were recovered along with additional items indicative of transportation of narcotics for sale and possession of narcotics for sale. Approximately 200 suspected fentanyl pills with an estimated street value of about $4000.00 were recovered. Grajeda and Velazquez were arrested and later booked at the Blythe Jail for the following charges:
- Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed
- Possession of an Unregistered Firearm
- Possession of a Narcotics for Sales
- Transportation of Narcotics for Sales
- Felony Evading/Reckless Driving
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Accessory After the Fact
- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a zero-tolerance policy for these offenses. If you suspect illegal activity in your area, please contact your local Sheriff’s Station. In addition, The Colorado River Station Special Enforcement Team is locally dedicated to serving our farming and rural communities and willfully enforce the law to protect our citizens. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact the Special Enforcement Team at the Colorado River Station by calling (760) 921-7900.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
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Seferino Benjamin Grajeda
| Cesar Octavio Lopez Velazquez
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