Five men and one juvenile were arrested and 18 dogs impounded in a witness intimidation investigation in Indio and Palm Desert.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Department deputies served warrants in the 80-900 block of Brown Street, the 82-200 block of Sierra Avenue and the 82-100 block of Bliss Avenue in Indio and the 40-200 block of Harris Lane in Palm Desert, the department reported.
Daniel J. Lopez, 20, Erick Reyes, 23, Sergio Uribe, 28, Zach Uribe, 21, Daniel Monroy, 21, and an unidentified 16-year-old were all placed into custody and are expected to make their initial court appearances at the Larson Justice Center in Indio as early as next week, court records show.
Everyone expect the 16-year-old, who was booked into Indio Juvenile Hall, are being held at the John Benoit Detention Center.
Monroy and Lopez are being held under on suspicion of witness intimidation, Sergio Uribe is being held for suspicion of violating parole, and Zach Uribe is being held for suspicion of animal cruelty.
Jail records did not specify what Reyes was being held on suspicion of.
Riverside Count animal services assisted deputies during the arrest of Zach Uribe, and seized 18 dogs at the property on the 82-100 block of Bliss Avenue. The property had a total of 25 dogs, but seven were not impounded because they belonged to someone not being arrested at the property, according to Riverside County Animal Services.
All 18 impounded dogs have received veterinary examinations and are receiving proper care and food and water, according to officials.
The Uribes were arrested at the same location, records show. It was not immediately clear what, if any, relationship they have.