In a world where there seems to be a lack of respect for law enforcement, cameras in every hand, and the ability to share information quickly with social media the deputies in Riverbank are out patrolling, investigating and making arrests upholding the law. The City of Riverbank has grown over the years and has an estimated population of 24,780 according to census.gov online.
In comparison to the past 10 years in the City of Action, Police Chief Erin Kiely explained that the past two years 2018 and 2019 have been relatively low-crime years as well as the general trend for Riverbank shows that crime incidents have been falling for the past seven years. The numbers are in for Riverbank Police Services (RPS) for 2019 which included 13,644 cases which is less than the annual average of 15,000 according to Kiely.
“All in all, the Deputies of RPS did a good job of keeping up with the 2019 work flow, which included making over 510 arrests,” explained Kiely. “In 2020, RPS anticipates adding one additional Patrol Deputy to its staff to help in these efforts.”
There were 103 burglaries reported in 2019 which includes vehicle, residential and commercial burglaries. RPS also handled eight robberies, 291 thefts, 296 assaults including nine aggravated assaults, and 65 vehicle thefts. There were no murders to report within the city limits of the City of Riverbank last year.
“Although there were no murders, unfortunately 2019 had two separate cases of gross vehicular manslaughter involving DUI related collisions,” Kiely said.
For 2020 RPS Deputies continue to fight crime and keep the streets of Riverbank safe and listed are a few calls that they have had so far in the new year.
During the graveyard shift on Sunday, Jan. 12 a Deputy conducted a probation search in the 3700 block of Nevada Avenue. Ammunition was found in Peter Heredia’s possession; the 34-year-old man was booked for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition and a probation violation.
A Deputy was flagged down by a citizen regarding a disturbance near Third and Sierra Streets on Friday, Jan. 10 during the day shift. One of the involved parties, Preston Miesner, 36, was contacted. A probation search revealed a relatively large amount of Methamphetamine, a box of Ziploc baggies and a digital scale in his backpack. Additional searching revealed rifle ammunition. Miesner was booked for possession of meth for sale, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Later on during the graveyard shift on Friday a Deputy responded to Target for a theft. A 29-year-old woman was contacted in connection with the theft of merchandise from the store and was booked for the theft.
On Tuesday, Jan. 7 during the graveyard shift a Deputy was patrolling near the Crossroads Shopping Center when he saw a subject known to him in the area. The Deputy knew the man to have warrants for his arrest. The subject was contacted and arrested for two warrants. A search revealed a Ziploc baggie of meth, a meth pipe and hypodermic needles/syringes. He was booked for the meth, possession of paraphernalia and warrants.
Deputies responded to a report of a gunshot on Eighth Street near Patterson during the day shift on Monday, Jan. 6. Upon searching the area no suspects were located, but upon security checking homes in the area they found where a bullet had entered the wall of a home. The home was occupied, but fortunately nobody was hit. RPS Detectives are now investigating the incident.
Also on that Monday during the graveyard shift a Deputy was patrolling near First and High Streets when he saw a subject walking in the area. As the Deputy knew the man to have a warrant, he contacted him and took him into custody. The 44-year-old man was booked for the warrant.
