Photo: File image of Jimenez | Courtesy of Riverside PD
RIVERSIDE, CA – Two members of the Riverside Police Department’s Park and Neighborhood Specialist (PANS) Unit were driving in the area of Bryant Park, located in the Arlanza neighborhood, on Friday, March 10, 2023, at approximately 9:30 a.m., when they witnessed a vehicle driving recklessly by them and appearing to meet up with another car in the parking lot.
The occupants of both vehicles had a brief interaction with each other before leaving when they saw the PANS Specialists in their truck. As both cars were leaving the parking lot, one of the involved vehicles accelerated toward the PANS truck in an attempt to ram or strike them. Fortunately, they were able to avoid being hit.
While driving away, they heard several gunshots coming from the vehicle that almost rammed into them and called for assistance.
Several officers responded to the call, including the Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team, but the involved vehicles were not located after an extensive search. Over the next several days, members of the POP Team conducted an investigation into the assault on the PANS specialists. The investigation led to the discovery of a video that confirmed one of the involved vehicles deliberately sped toward the specialists and subsequently fired off a handgun, although the gunshots did not appear aimed toward the specialists. Further evidence revealed that the PANS Specialists had unintentionally interrupted a drug sales transaction involving the vehicles while they were patrolling the park.
Eventually, the POP Team obtained search warrants which helped lead to the identification of the primary vehicle driver suspected in the assault and shooting. This same suspect had been arrested by the METRO Team and Gang Intelligence Unit for illegal narcotics sales and assault weapons violations in August 2022. With assistance from the METRO Team, POP Officers located the primary suspect, 19-year-old Jean Marcos Jimenez of Riverside, on Thursday, March 16th, in the city of Norco.
While trying to apprehend him, Jimenez attempted to flee from METRO Officers by intentionally ramming one of their vehicles but was safely taken into custody. A search of Jimenez’s vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 9 ounces of suspected fentanyl, 120 ounces of marijuana, 19 ounces of Psilocybin mushrooms, 320 packaged marijuana and Psilocybin mushroom candy, a 9mm handgun, ammunition, a large amount of cash, and other items indicating the packaging and sales of illegal narcotics.
Jimenez was arrested and later booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon, negligent discharge of a firearm, possession of illegal narcotics and marijuana for the purposes of sales, weapons violations, intimidation and/or dissuasion of a witness, and commission of a felony while out on bail. It was also discovered that Jimenez had been in a sexual relationship with his 16-year-old girlfriend for several years, so additional charges were added for lewd and lascivious acts with a child and child endangerment. Jimenez is currently being held on $350,000 bail.
The investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with additional and relevant information regarding the arrest is encouraged to contact POP Officer Michael Smith at (951) 826-8728 or MikeSmith@RiversideCA.gov. Those wishing to remain anonymous can email RPDTips@RiversideCA.gov or download and use the Riverside Police Department’s “Atlas 1” mobile app by utilizing the “Send a Message” feature. The app can be downloaded by clicking the ATLAS ONE link on their website.
