Not a Safe Exchange – Duo Transacts French Bulldog Robbery at Gunpoint
MORENO VALLEY – A Craigslist transaction went terribly wrong when the parties arranged to meet at a location other than the Safe Exchange area at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Moreno Valley Station parking lot. As a result, Deputies were dispatched to a “Robbery at Gunpoint” call at 9:21 PM on 01/25/2021.
Had the parties been under the watchful eye of law-enforcement surveillance, the following series of late- night events could have been avoided. Instead, the pre-arranged meeting place was the 11000 block of Ohio Street, city of Moreno Valley – for the sale of a French Bulldog.
The anonymous victim met the female suspect, and presented the pup. An armed male suspect immediately exited what was described as a silver Mercedes Benz.
The barrel of a black semi-automatic handgun pointed at the victim, as both suspects fled the scene in the Benz. Neither the suspects nor the getaway car were located by Deputies canvassing the area.
“Members of the Moreno Valley Station Robbery Burglary Suppression Team (RBST) immediately began working the case and collecting items of evidentiary value,” said Sergeant Ryan Marcuse. “Through an abundance of assistance from the public, as well as the Moreno Valley Citywide Camera System, the female suspect was identified as Serenity Gershon (20) from the city of Hawthorne.”
RBST members paid a visit to the 14000 block of Cerise Ave., city of Hawthorne, to serve a search warrant at Gershon’s residence. There, they located several items related to the robbery.
Both Gershon and the alleged gunman – Joshua Reneau (29) from Hawthorne – were located, taken into custody, and arrested without incident. The duo were later booked into Robert Presley Detention Center.
Sergeant Ryan Marcuse added a dog-gone, chilling fact, “It is believed Gershon and Reneau are responsible for several additional robberies of French bulldogs in the southern California area.”
Anyone with information regarding Armed Robbery case #MV210250263 is encouraged to contact Moreno Valley Station RBST Deputy Mark Hardin at 951-486-6700.
