Riverside County authorities are investigating yet another threat received Friday against police officers in Hemet.
On Friday afternoon, someone called 911 saying a police car would be blown up in the next two days as revenge for a law-enforcement sweep earlier this week of a local motorcycle gang.
Authorities said they were trying to determine whether the threat was linked to a string of incidents targeting police officers.
The attacks have involved booby traps at the
headquarters of the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force or targeting officers
assigned to the unit, officials said.
In December, a utility
line was redirected to flood the offices with gas; any spark could have triggered an explosion. In February, a modified handgun was hidden by the
gate to the office and rigged to fire. When a gang officer opened the
gate, the weapon went off, narrowly missing him. And two weeks ago,
police said, a "dangerous" device was found near the unmarked car of a
task-force member.
Officials have put up a $200,000 reward for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the investigation.
The gang task force, formed in 2006, is made up of local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies.
So far, there are no official suspects in the threats or potentially deadly incidents. But on Wednesday authorities
led raids on the Vagos outlaw motorcycle gang. The group has a significant
presence in Hemet. Thirty people were arrested on charges that included
possession of drugs and weapons.
With the latest threat, Hemet police Chief Richard Dana told the Press-Enterprise: "We are on heightened alert."
— Shelby Grad
Photo: Hemet gang unit. AP