A known gang member was arrested in Beaumont on Monday, February 6 in connection with an armed robbery and assault that was committed on the Morongo Indian reservation in December, 2011.

In December 2011, Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Morongo Indian Reservation entered the Morongo Indian reservation to investigate a reported armed robbery and assault.

Deputies learned that a lone female victim was accosted in a remote area, confronted at gunpoint, and robbed of her purse and several hundred dollars in cash.  During the robbery, she was able to flee into an open field and escape her assailant.

While running, the victim heard several shots fired from the suspect, and believed the shots were directed towards her.  She was able to run to a nearby residence on the reservation and summon help.

The victim sustained no injuries in the robbery.

Investigators assigned to the case quickly identified the suspect in the robbery Erick Michael Jones, 33 (pictured right), of Lynwood.  Jones is an active gang member from the Los Angeles area and has several active felony warrants for his arrest.

For several weeks, Jones eluded capture and remained at large.

On Sunday, February 5th, deputies assigned to the Cabazon Station received information that Erick Jones had been seen recently attempting to enter the Morongo Reservation driving a blue Nissan Titan with paper dealer plates.

On Monday, February 6th at 11:30 a.m., a Sheriff’s deputy driving through Beaumont saw the truck parked at a residence the 900 Block of Beaumont Avenue.  There were two people in the truck.

Both occupants were ordered to get out of the truck, with the driver being identified as Erick Jones.  He was taken into custody without incident.

A .44 caliber (Magnum) revolver was recovered from inside the vehicle along with other items believed to stolen, including credit cards and checks.

Erick Jones was booked into Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning for his active felony warrants, weapons violations, and the robbery and assault from December 2011 on Morongo.  He is currently being held without bail.

Jones is not a member of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Throughout the investigation, the Morongo Tribal Patrol remained integral to the success of this investigation.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to call Deputy Paul Questel at 951-922-7100, or email at CabazonStation@RiversideSheriff.org

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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

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