RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTSheriff Chad Bianco |
| Press Release: | Felon in Possession of a Handgun |
| Station Area: | Banning |
| Written Date: | August 5, 2021 | Time: | 7:45 PM |
| Incident Date: | August 5, 2021 | Time: | 6:10 PM |
| Incident Location: | 1500 Block of West Hays Street, Banning |
| Reporting Officer: | Sergeant Mike Bennett, Region 2 Gang Task Force |
| File Number(s): | 21-1736 |
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| Charles Serika |
Details:
On Thursday, August 5, 2021, at 6:10 PM, Gang Task Force Officers from Region 2 witnessed a male subject on a bike, who was wearing a backpack, conduct a hand-to-hand drug transaction in the 1400 block of West Ramsey Street in the City of Banning. The suspect, identified as Charles Serika, a forty-three-year-old resident of the City of Banning, observed Gang Tasks Force Officers and quickly fled on his bike northbound through a parking lot onto West Hays Street.
Gang Task Force Officers were able to catch up to Serika moments later in the 1500 block of West Hays Street. Gang Task Force Officers observed a glass pipe with methamphetamine inside the pipe in the side pocket of the backpack in plain view. Serika was placed under arrest for possession drug paraphernalia. During a search of Serika’s backpack, Gang Task Force Officers located two loaded handguns, a handgun magazine loaded with ammunition, a half-pound of methamphetamine, one ounce of marijuana, four grams of cocaine, and over a hundred small empty zip lock baggies. These items are all indicative that Serika was selling illegal narcotics. It was also confirmed that Serika is a convicted felon and is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
Serika was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility for the following charges:
- Felon in Possession of Firearm
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Possession of Controlled Substance While Armed
- Possession for Sale of Illegal Narcotics
- Possession of Un-Registered Firearm
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
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.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
