[ilbegone]

Third Attack Hits Hemet Gang Task Force

KESQ.com News Services

HEMET - An anti-gang officer in Hemet discovered today that a device had been attached to his car with potentially deadly consequences -- in what appears to be the third attempt in two months to injure or kill members of an anti-gang unit in southwest Riverside County.

According to Hemet police, around 8 a.m., a member of the Hemet/San Jacinto Gang Task Force parked his unmarked vehicle next to an AM/PM store at 298 S. Sanderson Ave. and spotted a threatening device adjacent to the car.

The Hemet police officer immediately cleared the area and requested the sheriff's bomb squad to investigate, said Hemet police Lt. Duane Wisehart.

Authorities cordoned off the intersection of Sanderson and Acacia avenues and closed access to the area from surrounding streets and parking lots, Wisehart said.

"We're not releasing what type of device it was," he told City News Service. "All we can say is it would have killed or injured the officer if it had done what it was supposed to do."

According to the lieutenant, the explosive device had been affixed to the officer's vehicle prior to his arriving at the mini mart.

The sheriff's bomb unit disabled the instrument, and the area was reopened to traffic around 1 p.m., Wisehart said.

No suspects have been identified.

The task force, which is comprised of Riverside County sheriff's deputies, Hemet police officers and other law enforcement officials, has been targeted twice before.

On Dec. 31, authorities discovered that a natural gas line on the roof of the task force's headquarters building had been redirected into the facility, filling it with gas, which could have caused an explosion.

On Feb. 23, an anti-gang officer was opening a gate at the task force's office in the 500 block of Saint John Place when he was nearly struck by a bullet that was part of a booby trap triggered when the gate moved.

The task force is now operating from an undisclosed location.

On Tuesday, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors approved a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of whoever is responsible for the previous two attacks.

"I'd like to think the money will lead us to the people doing this," said Wisehart. "There's no honor among thieves, so hopefully someone will give it up."

He said the threats not only create undue stress, but tear investigators away from other cases.

"Some things end up on the back-burner when you've got this kind of intense investigation," Wisehart said.

Authorities suspect area gangs are behind the attacks.