Riverside Police Department Press Release

Unknown Trouble

Riverside, Ca-  On Friday, January 31, 2003, at approximately 7:05 P.M., Riverside Police Department Communications Bureau received a call of unknown trouble at an auto repair business located in the 2600 block of University Avenue. Responding officers contacted the owner of the business who told them there were at least two subjects in his business armed with handguns that were in the process of robbing him. The business owner told the officers that one of his employees was hiding inside the business. Believing they had a possible hostage situation officers contained the business and called for assistance from the Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT), and hostage negotiators. Negotiators made contact with subjects inside the business and at approximately 9:00 P.M., four subjects surrendered to awaiting officers. Members of the SWAT team found a fifth person, believed to be one of the employees at the business, at approximately 10:00 P.M.

Officers interviewing the possible victim found a robbery may not have occurred, but were unsure what, if any, crime had been committed. None of the subjects were armed at the time they surrendered and no weapons had been located. Anyone with information is asked to call the General Investigations Bureau at (909) 320-8000.