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On Monday, September 6, 2021, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Southwest Station, responded to the report of a carjacking in the 3200 block of Corte Soledad, in the City of Temecula. During the investigation, deputies learned the victim’s vehicle was taken at gunpoint by a known associate, 27-year-old, Scott Coco. At the time of the initial investigation, deputies were unable to locate and arrest Coco.

The Murrieta/Temecula Regional Gang Task Force assumed the investigation. While conducting the investigation, additional evidence identifying Coco as the suspect was located.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at approximately 2:00 P.M, with the assistance of the Murrieta Police Department’s Community Police Team (CPT) and Special Enforcement Team (SET), during an unrelated probation compliance search at a residence in the 33000 block of Zeiders Road, in the City of Menifee, Coco was arrested for the Temecula carjacking / robbery incident. Coco also had several other felony warrants for his arrest including a parolee at large warrant.

Additionally, when officers arrived at the Zeiders residence to conduct the probation compliance check, an officer assigned to CPT attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle leaving the property for expired registration when the vehicle refused to stop. The fleeing vehicle returned to the property and the driver fled on foot. Additional resources arrived on scene and located the driver hiding inside a trailer on the property. The driver was identified as Justin Denhoed, a subject on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). Denhoed was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant and further investigation revealed the vehicle he fled in had been reported stolen out of the Winchester area. An additional subject on the property, identified as Jeffery Jones was also arrested for narcotics related offenses.

If you have any information related to this investigation you can contact Gang Task Force Deputy T. Tully at 951-461-6344 or Officer R. Leitch at 951-461-6353 and/or if you have information related to gang or illegal weapon related activity in your neighborhood, you can contact Sergeant S. Dyer at the Murrieta-Temecula Regional Gang Task Force at 951-461-6363.

You may also provide information anonymously through the Riverside County Gang Task Force Tip Form. The Riverside County Gang Task Force is a collaborative effort of several law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs. The Murrieta-Temecula Regional Gang Task Force is one of 6 teams which compose the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force which is a collaborative effort of multiple law enforcement agencies with the goal of combating criminal street gangs.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Scott Coco	Justin Denhoed	Jeffery Jones