Corona PD issues report on recent crime-fighting efforts throughout city
Originally published 5-9-22 via Facebook
by the City of Corona Police Department:
“From 7:00 am Monday, May 2nd, until 7:00 am this morning, we responded to 2,110 incidents. Included in these calls for service and pro-active patrols were 81 alarm calls, 22 area checks, 99 disturbance calls, 206 property checks, and 33 welfare checks. Officers arrested 69 persons for various crimes during the same time frame.
On Monday, May 2nd, at about 2 pm, a victim reported his vehicle had been stolen at gunpoint in the early morning hours in a business parking lot in the 1100 block of W. Sixth Street. At about 6 pm, officers located the stolen vehicle in the 300 block of McKinley Street. The driver attempted to flee, but with the help of the Riverside Police Department’s helicopter, officers were able to locate the vehicle. Douglas Miller (32-year-old from Corona) was identified as the driver of the stolen vehicle. Miller was arrested for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and violation of his probation.
On Wednesday, May 4th, at about 9:30 am, a victim was involved in a physical altercation with a family member in the 900 block of W. Seventh Street. The victim’s vehicle was left running, and a male, later identified as Guillermo Villegas (43-year-old from Corona), approached the victim as she stood by the driver’s door of her vehicle. Villegas pushed the victim and reached towards his waistband, simulating he was armed. Villegas drove away in the victim’s vehicle but was located a short time later. Villegas was arrested for carjacking and possession of stolen property.
On Thursday, May 5th, at about 6 pm, a FLEX officer saw Julio Gonzalez (24-year-old from Corona), who was wanted for a felony warrant in the area of Fifth Street and Fuller Street. Gonzalez had previously fled from officers that same day and again decided to go for a run. Gonzalez hid in a yard of a nearby residence but decided to surrender when confronted by K9 Bruce. Gonzalez was arrested for the felony warrant, resisting arrest, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Thursday, May 5th, at about 9 pm, officers responded to a business in the 400 block of N. McKinley Street, reference a call of a suspicious person. The suspect, Joshua Lyles (31-year-old from Corona), was causing a disturbance inside the business, and employees wanted him to leave. Officers asked Lyles to leave, but he refused and became combative as the officers attempted to place him under arrest for trespassing. With the assistance of several other officers and a nearby RSO Deputy, Lyles was arrested. Lyles was charged with resisting an officer and trespassing.
On Friday, May 6th, at about 9 pm, FLEX Officers were patrolling the downtown area and conducted a pedestrian check in the area of Lincoln Avenue and D Street. The suspect, later identified as Joseph Butkiewicz (32-year-old from Covina), initially provided a false name to officers. Officers determined his true identity and discovered that he was on formal probation out of San Bernardino County. When confronted, Butkiewicz attempted to run away. After a brief struggle, Butkiewicz was pulled to the ground using a control hold and taken into custody. A search incident to arrest revealed that Butkiewicz was in possession of a loaded .40cal handgun, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. Butkiewicz was arrested for providing a false name to a peace officer, resisting arrest, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a controlled substance armed with a firearm.
On Sunday, May 8th, at about 1 pm, an officer observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign in the area of Salem Drive and Vermont Drive. The officer initiated a traffic stop, and the driver, later identified as Gabriel Arzate (29-year-old from Corona), continued to drive at a low rate of speed as he yelled out the window to let him go. Arzate stopped the vehicle a short distance later and informed the officer “he was riding dirty.” Arzate was handcuffed, and a loaded firearm was located inside the vehicle. Arzate was arrested for two felony warrants, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance armed with a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, and violation of his Post Release Community Supervision.”
