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Man suspected with several illegally possessed firearms free from jail
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M O N D AY, A U G U S T 21- A U G U S T 27, 2023
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Hurricane Hilary prompts 1st-ever tropical storm watch in Southern California By City News Service
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ith Hurricane Hilary strengthening to Category 4 status in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California as it made its way toward Southern California on Friday, a first-of-its-kind tropical storm watch was issued for much of Riverside County. The watch, which indicated that “tropical stormforce winds are possible somewhere within this area within the next 48 hours,” was the first ever issued in Southern California, according to the National Weather Service. A tropical storm has not made landfall in California since 1939, forecasters said. The watch covered the Coachella Valley, Riverside County mountains and valleys and the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning. The NWS noted that the hurricane would weaken
as it moved north, devolving to a tropical storm as it reached Southern California over the weekend, but it was predicted to still pack a punch, with heavy rain likely to prompt flash flooding in some mountain and foothill areas, along with powerful winds Sunday into Monday. Forecasters warned that the storm could have major impacts, including: -- flooding that might prompt evacuation orders; -- heavy rain that could turn small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches into “dangerous rivers,” leading to potentially destructive runoff in mountain valleys that could raise the risk of rock slides, mudslides and debris flows; and -- flooding of streets and parking lots that will make driving conditions dangerous and potentially prompt road and bridge closures.
Moisture from the storm was expected to start impacting the region as early as Saturday. “Widespread heavy rainfall is expected for Saturday into Monday with the most widespread and heaviest rainfall expected for Sunday night,” according to the National Weather Service. The exact path of the storm remained in flux Friday, with forecasters noting that even slight shifts in its track could dramatically impact rainfall totals. “Regardless of the exact track and intensity of Hilary, which could continue to change in the coming days, it will bring a substantial surge in moisture into Southern California, with heavy rainfall and a high See Hurricane Hilary Page 27
Radar tracks Hurricane Hilary. | Image courtesy of the National Hurricane Center
Countywide fire-rescue: Alleged arson fire, other blazes displace residents; hiker rescued; PS airport fire prompts probe
Jury finds man guilty of fatal 2017 shooting in Banning
By City News Service
45-year-old Riverside woman was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly setting fire to an occupied San Jacinto apartment. Fire crews responded at 6 a.m. Tuesday to a report of a multi-family structure fire in the 100 block of Tiger Lane, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The structure was initially reported to have smoke and fire coming from one unit on the second floor. Two adults who were sleeping inside the apartment when the fire started managed to escape by jumping from an exterior window, sheriff’s officials said. Investigators determined the two tenants had a recent dispute with a woman over the death of a pet dog, according to the sheriff’s department. The woman, Kenyetta Taylor, was then determined to be a suspect in the fire, and she was arrested at a residence in the 200 block of Cape Elizabeth Way in Riverside. She was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder. Anyone with additional information was encouraged to contact lead investigator Ruben Martinez at 951-791-3400. The two alleged targets of the fire sustained minor injuries and were subsequently taken to a hospital, and seven people were displaced, according to the fire department.
Cathedral City man who killed another man in 2017 in Banning out of jealousy over a woman was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder. Ronald Dean Ricks, 37, was convicted of the murder count, and jurors also found true a special-circumstance allegation of discharging a firearm from a vehicle and a sentence-enhancing allegation of discharging a firearm causing great bodily injury. The charges stemmed from the Jan. 16, 2017, shooting death of 32-year-old Banning resident Michael Gordon, who police found lying in the street in front of 1296 Wyte Way. Jurors deliberated for five days before reaching their verdict. According to John Hall of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, Ricks is set to be sentenced Oct. 13 and faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. Deputy District Attorney Josh DeGonia said the steps leading up to the killing began when Ricks heard that his girlfriend had been at a casino with Gordon. On the morning of Jan. 16, 2017, Ricks drove to Banning, killed Gordon then drove off, DeGonia said. The truck Ricks was driving was found the day after the shooting with gunshot residue outside the front door frame, according to DeGonia. Witnesses described a white truck and the driver as a man with a bald head and a tattoo on the side of his head, he said. DeGonia said the only reasonable interpretation of the evidence is that Ricks was the
See Fire-rescue Page 27
See Shooting Page 27
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