A 20-year-old man was arrested during follow-up investigation of a weapon and drug seizure earlier this week in which several firearms and approximately 42 pounds of suspected fentanyl were found, authorities said Friday.
Oscar Montillo Diaz of Coachella was arrested Thursday on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl for sale, and transportation of narcotics, according to Sgt. Cameron James of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force conducted the follow-up investigation that day by serving a search warrant in the 78000 block of Country Club Drive in Bermuda Dunes, James said.
“During the search warrant, Gang Task Force members collected an additional 30 lbs. of suspected fentanyl and 6 firearms,” James wrote in a statement. “Additional information was developed that the subject responsible for the fentanyl and firearms was driving around in the immediate area.”
With assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s K-9 Team, the suspect’s vehicle was found in a parking lot near Avenue 41 and Washington Street, according to James. Inside the vehicle, there was allegedly narcotics and evidence linking him to the location where the initial search was conducted.
Diaz was arrested and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he remains held on a $500,000 bail bond, according to inmate records.
At 1:43 p.m. Wednesday, CVVCGTF members and Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail conducted a weapons-related investigation in the 85900 block of Avenida Aleenah, according to James. During the investigation, Sergio Felix, 20, of Coachella and a 14-year-old boy were seen leaving the area, so their vehicle was stopped and they were arrested.
Felix was booked into the Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of several weapons-related charges, child endangerment and violation of probation, according to James. He was released Thursday on a $50,000 bail bond.
The teen was arrested and booked into the Indio Juvenile Center on suspicion of multiple weapons-related charges.
The vehicle they were in was searched and a fully automatic short-barrel rifle and two handguns, one which was fully automatic, were found, James said. A search warrant was then authored for a residence in the area, where CVVCGTF members found more firearms and about 42 pounds of suspected fentanyl.
Anyone with additional information on the firearms or fentanyl was asked to call Gang Task Force member Deputy Piscatella at 760-836-1600 or Valley Crimestoppers anonymously at 760-341-7867 (STOP).