Desert Local News - Index

Desert Local News - dlnews - Index

4
police & sheriffs report
Why Parolees
‘Love’ DHS
By Leslie Andrews
Desert Hot Springs residents
met with their Police Chief Thursday
night to discuss the explosive
issue of parolees that plagues the
city’s image. In a series of more
public forums to come, Chief Patrick
Williams encouraged residents
to take part in other meetings,
which include the Public Safety
Committee and the Parolee Ad Hoc
Committee meetings. City Council
members Russell Betts and Mayor
Pro Tem Scott Matas were also in
attendance.
Residents got the opportunity
to ask questions about why parolees
and sex offenders live in
their neighborhood and what the
police department is doing about
the problem, which has grown to
about over 400 in population citywide.
A question commonly asked
was what attracts parolees to come
to Desert Hot Springs. “Affordable
housing is one reason,” said Matas.
“You cannot tell them where to live
in Riverside County.”
But does that mean that all parolees
are bad people? Not necessarily.
Councilman Betts said, “We
go about town and see people who
have turned their lives around. The
important point is that it’s a small
percentage. I think all of us have
the compassion for those who want
to change their life, but this community
has to come to grips with
it.” Police Chief Williams added,
“There are success stories, but are
few and far between.”
He also brought up the fact the
state of California will be releasing
45,000 prisoners this year on parole
and back to the communities
where they came from. “The locals
are not prepared to handle that,”
the Chief said.
In terms of the number of sex
offenders, Desert Hot Springs has
136 of them living within their
boundaries. “Of those numbers,
we have about 15 to 40 of them
that are out of compliance,” quote
Chief Williams.
Of course, those who have no
place to go after being released
end up homeless. Still, the group
agreed that those who are homeless
need help. “One of my main
goals was to put together a homeless
committee,” said Matas. “It
all comes back to the parolee who
wants to get help.”
Police, according to the chief,
are not prepared to always handle
these situations when it comes to
homeless parolees. “It’s not a crime
to be homeless,” said Williams.
“It’s a very intensive challenge and
a lot of them have mental health issues.
A portion of that population
have refused to take their meds.
We need to identify some problems
and we want to help them. We have
one vehicle of resource and finding
folks from faith-based communities
we can connect people to.”
One resident who attended had
concern about parolees homesteading
empty houses in local neighborhoods.
“We have two empty
houses right next to us and we’re
worried that they might invade
those houses,” said Hans Weisman,
a resident of Rancho Del Oro. He
was also concerned that parolees
who are homeless may be hiding.
“During the day I was home alone
and a policeman rang my door. I
was shocked. There was a guy seen
in the neighborhood and he warned
us that they may be hiding. This is
evidence of what’s happening.”
Stay tuned to the Desert Hot
Springs Police Department Website
for more details on when the
next forum will be held. The next
Public Safety meeting will take
place at 6:00 on Thursday, February
14th.
PALMWOOD
By Leslie Andrews almost a million dollars has been for four or five years now,” said
The developer of the proposed spent on luxury cars and American Harnik. “He denies everything.
Palmwood Development stands Express bills, in addition to more There was no improper use of
accused of embezzling money money being spent on a building in funds.”
rather than paying taxes.
downtown Minneapolis.
The investors group is also
Reports state that Michael
Landmark’s attorney Brian
seeking to get involved in the
Crosby of Landmark Properties Harnik believes that Crosby is
lawsuit, claiming that Crosby no
U.S. Incorporated has been mis- innocent of any such wrongdo-
longer represents their best interappropriating
his finances and ings, and that he denies spending ests, as noted on legal briefs. The
spending for his own personal en- outlandish amounts of money
investors state they own 90 percent
tertainment and pleasure. A total of on himself. “I’ve known Crosby of total shares and that they have
spent many millions of dollars.
Palmwood continued
Desert Hot Springs Properties,
the group, also claims that Crosby
has denied them access to any information
regarding the project
and want him removed from his
position as project manager.
However, Harnik’s job with
Crosby is mainly the Palmwood
Development, which still wishes to
carry on and be built, despite two
lawsuits pending. One of them is
concerning the Sierra Club, which
has filed a suit to stop the development
dead in its tracks. “The
suit has been moved from February
22nd to May 9th,” Harnik
said. The other suit involves the
MSHCP (Multiple Species Habitat
Conservation Plan) and CVAG
(Coachella Valley Association of
Governments).
Palmwood was supposed to be
a 1,766 acre development, which
would include two championship
golf courses designed by Phil
Mickelson as well as a practice
training course, which includes
homes of luxury value. All of this
was to be located at the corner of
Highway 62 and Indian Canyon
Drive north of Desert Hot Springs.
But when it came to annexation,
at first LAFCO (Local Area Formation
Commission) approved
it by a narrow vote, but then they
reconsidered their decision at a
later meeting. “Developments like
this one present many challenges,”
Harnik added. “LAFCO suggested
that all sides work out something.
Negotiating with CVAG doesn’t
mean that we won’t have a deal. If
we cannot strike a deal, then it is
up to a judge.”
So far, the city of Desert Hot
Springs has been picking up the
tab when it comes to legal fees.
This tab has totaled over $75,000
and officials in the city want their
money reimbursed. Rick Daniels,
City Manager, stated, “So far, there
has been $75,000 paid by the city,
and they are 60 days overdue. We
have motivated them to pay or we
will take remedies- collection or
court.”
Daniels feels confident that the
city will get its money back, otherwise,
there will be permits revoked.
He is hoping that Palmwood developers
will come up with a $50,000
deposit to cover future legal fees.
Yet he hopes that this project will
still go through as planned.
Stay tuned to Desert Local
News for more details on the Palmwood
Project as news develops.
Four Adults
Arrested
Officers assigned to the
La Quinta Police Department
Special Enforcement
Team, with the assistance
of the Indio Police Department
Special Enforcement
Team, served three
property-related search
warrants at residences in
the city of Indio. The warrant
services were part of
an ongoing investigation
into a series of residential
burglaries inside gated
communities in the city of
La Quinta.
During their investigation,
officers seized evidence
related to the burglaries,
and also recovered illegal
drugs. Arrested during
the warrant services were
Alfonso Cajica, 55 years
of Indio, Sylvia Gutierrez,
52 years of Indio, David
Borunda, 48 years of Indio,
and Luis Gutierrez, 47
years of Indio. All arrests
involved possession of
illegal drugs, with the exception
of Sylvia Gutierrez,
who also had a federal
warrant for her arrest for
violation of probation,
and David Borunda, who
was wanted as a paroleeat-large.
All were arrested
at residences in the 45000
block of Deglet Noor St.,
Indio, and booked into the
Indio jail.
Officers are continuing
to follow up on leads,
which they believe may
lead to additional arrests.
Anyone with information
regarding residential
burglaries in La Quinta
are encouraged to call
Riverside County Sheriff’s
Department’s Indio
Station at 760-863-8990.
#LA08033020 (MH)