Latest news with #Railsback
Los Angeles Times
9 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Friends ID woman hit by SUV at ‘No Kings' protest: ‘She was so proud to be out there'
The Riverside Police Department is seeking help from the public two days after the driver of a black SUV rammed through a group of demonstrators in downtown Riverside, running over a young woman who remains in critical but stable condition. The department is asking for help in identifying and locating the suspect in the incident that occurred around 9:10 p.m. on University Avenue between Main and Orange streets, according to Officer Ryan J. Railsback, a spokesman for the department. Railsback said a 'speeding SUV drove around the march and struck a female pedestrian before fleeing the scene.' Although police have not released the name of the victim, a woman who identified herself as a friend created a GoFundMe page and identified her as 21-year-old Alexa Carrasco. 'She was rushed to the hospital' and was in intensive care with 'life-threatening injuries,' wrote the friend, Leslie Hernandez. She told The Times on Monday that Carrasco remained in critical but stable condition in the ICU. Carrasco's friends also told KCAL that she suffered severe skull injuries as well as a cracked rib, punctured lung and broken leg. 'Alexa is loving, outgoing, and full of life,' Hernandez wrote. 'She's the kind of person who always shows up for others, and she was so proud to be out there using her voice. She did not deserve what happened to her.' Railsback said paramedics 'treated the victim at the scene. Then she was transported to a local hospital with significant injuries in stable condition.' At the time of the collision, there were two protests in the area — one was part of the 'No Kings' rallies taking place across the country. Another was a demonstration against raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 'The groups merged early on,' Railsback said. 'And we have no reason to believe the driver was part of this protest.' Investigators are not only seeking the driver but also trying to determine if the incident was intentional or politically linked. 'We don't know if it was accidental or not,' Railsback said, 'but we are investigating it as an assault with a deadly weapon at this time.' Video taken by demonstrators and posted on social media shows the black SUV stopped on University Avenue when a group of protesters begin to gather around the vehicle. One demonstrator can be seen bumping into the car's left taillight while another uses an object to smash the light. The car then drives forward, around demonstrators and speeding past Orange Street before dragging the young woman and running over her body. 'We are aware of the various social media videos that are being circulated and are using those to help us identify the driver,' Railsback said. The public is asked to contact detectives at (951) 353-7103. Anonymous tips can be made through Crime Stoppers.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Yahoo
2 Riverside officers charged after resident's skateboard smashed in viral video
Two Riverside police officers are facing charges after a viral video surfaced last month showing an officer smashing a resident's skateboard while another officer looks on. Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez announced Friday that the county district attorney decided to file charges against the officers for misdemeanor vandalism. A spokesperson for the department said the following day that the charge for the officer who observed the destruction was changed to aiding and abetting the crime, also a misdemeanor. The officers' names were not released. In a message posted to Facebook, Gonzalez acknowledged that an officer was caught on video damaging a skateboard "in what appeared to be a deliberate act." "Let me be clear: This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the standards of the Riverside Police Department," Gonzalez said in a message posted to Facebook. "I expect every officer to uphold the integrity and professionalism that our community deserves." Gonzalez said an internal investigation is ongoing. In January, a video posted to YouTube depicted at least six police officers entering what appeared to be the driveway or backyard of a home. Ryan Railsback, an officer and spokesperson for the department, said that the officers arrived at the house to serve administrative paperwork related to code enforcement. He said Riverside city staff asked the department to assist for safety reasons. As the officers mill around, one officer wearing his hat backward grabs a skateboard. "Do an ollie," someone says in the video that has had more than 550,000 views. The officer attempts to do the skateboard trick several times before stepping off. Two other officers hop on for a few moments. As the officers leave, two stay behind. One grabs a hammer on a table and walks over to the skateboard. He stomps the board twice with his foot until it appears to split in two. The other officer observes and appears to take a photo before they both exit. Gonzalez did not name the charged officers in his statement, but said one had five years of service and the other had six. "Accountability is essential, and I will continue to ensure my officers meet the standards expected by our community,' he said. The officers will remain on duty while the internal investigation moves forward, according to Railsback. Once it is complete, the police chief will receive it along with any recommendations and determine what to do, he said. A day after the Jan. 21 incident, the homeowner filed a complaint with the police department, Railsback said. ABC 7 TV reported that the skateboard owner felt he was targeted by Riverside police. Railsback said there have been "public safety" and "quality-of-life" issues at the house, which had affected neighbors. He said Riverside city's code enforcement division had gotten involved and asked the police department for assistance. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
22-02-2025
- Los Angeles Times
2 Riverside officers charged after resident's skateboard smashed in viral video
Two Riverside police officers are facing charges after a viral video surfaced last month showing an officer smashing a resident's skateboard while another officer looks on. Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez announced Friday that the county district attorney decided to file charges against the officers for misdemeanor vandalism. A spokesperson for the department said the following day that the charge for the officer who observed the destruction was changed to aiding and abetting the crime, also a misdemeanor. The officers' names were not released. In a message posted to Facebook, Gonzalez acknowledged that an officer was caught on video damaging a skateboard 'in what appeared to be a deliberate act.' 'Let me be clear: This behavior is unacceptable and does not reflect the standards of the Riverside Police Department,' Gonzalez said in a message posted to Facebook. 'I expect every officer to uphold the integrity and professionalism that our community deserves.' Gonzalez said an internal investigation is ongoing. In January, a video posted to YouTube depicted at least six police officers entering what appeared to be the driveway or backyard of a home. Ryan Railsback, an officer and spokesperson for the department, said that the officers arrived at the house to serve administrative paperwork related to code enforcement. He said Riverside city staff asked the department to assist for safety reasons. As the officers mill around, one officer wearing his hat backward grabs a skateboard. 'Do an ollie,' someone says in the video that has had more than 550,000 views. The officer attempts to do the skateboard trick several times before stepping off. Two other officers hop on for a few moments. As the officers leave, two stay behind. One grabs a hammer on a table and walks over to the skateboard. He stomps the board twice with his foot until it appears to split in two. The other officer observes and appears to take a photo before they both exit. Gonzalez did not name the charged officers in his statement, but said one had five years of service and the other had six. 'Accountability is essential, and I will continue to ensure my officers meet the standards expected by our community,' he said. The officers will remain on duty while the internal investigation moves forward, according to Railsback. Once it is complete, the police chief will receive it along with any recommendations and determine what to do, he said. A day after the Jan. 21 incident, the homeowner filed a complaint with the police department, Railsback said. ABC 7 TV reported that the skateboard owner felt he was targeted by Riverside police. Railsback said there have been 'public safety' and 'quality-of-life' issues at the house, which had affected neighbors. He said Riverside city's code enforcement division had gotten involved and asked the police department for assistance.
