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Chief Reviews Holiday Weekend Happenings
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The Stars and Stripes again greet motorists on Atchison Street through downtown Riverbank, between First and Eighth streets, on Saturday, July 4. With daylong friends and family activities, including barbecues and swimming at Jacob Myers Park, celebrants adjourned to Independence Day fireworks as the night wore on. Neighborhoods all around Riverbank lit up the night sky Saturday and the resultant sounds of the explosions drove pets and other animals to take cover. Ric McGinnis/The News

 

The long three-day Fourth of July holiday weekend had some activity that kept the Riverbank Police Services deputies busy. There was an additional unit working the holiday weekend. RPS units handled 65 calls for service on the Fourth of July, said Police Chief Erin Kiely, including two separate public intoxication arrests, one warrant arrest, a hit and run investigation, three assists to the fire department and numerous illegal fireworks calls and shots fired calls.

There was also an arrest made by Deputy Layton on the Fourth of July as he conducted a bike stop at Sixth and Santa Fe on a subject identified as Michael Lozano, 42, from Riverbank for riding his bike on the wrong side of the roadway. A records check revealed a warrant for his arrest out of the Oakdale Police Department. While attempting to detain Lozano, he pulled away and resisted Deputy Layton by fighting. A Taser was deployed and Lozano was taken into custody without further incident. During a search incident to the arrest, methamphetamine, a glass pipe and metal knuckles were located in his possession. Lozano was arrested and booked into the county jail.

On July 5 there was a report of a strong arm robbery on River Cove Drive. Two suspects, approximately 16 to 17 years old, one Hispanic male and the other a Caucasian male, approached the 20-year-old victim and another subject he was with. The Hispanic male suspect grabbed the victim’s backpack and attempted to pull it away from him. The victim attempted to hang on to the backpack where upon both suspects began punching the primary victim and the subject he was with. The suspects were able to steal the backpack and flee the area. The case remains under investigation.

“Although Riverbank Police Services did not experience any major incidents during the holiday weekend, illegal fireworks continue to be a problem in Riverbank on the Fourth of July,” stated Chief Kiely. “Some of our citizens just don’t seem to grasp that when they use them they are endangering not only their safety, but the safety of their entire neighborhood.

“All you need to do is google ‘illegal fireworks accidents’ to grasp the harsh reality of the hazards they present, with drought conditions, the hazards are even greater. We will do our best at RPS to staff additional cars next year in an attempt to catch those who continue to use them.”

To report a crime, call 209-552-2468.