Gang Task Force Officers with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office seized guns, firearm manufacturing equipment and other illegal gun-related items in a Beaumont search on Thursday, according to authorities.

Authorities served a search warrant on the 300 block of 12th Street at 9 a.m. Thursday.

According to the sheriff’s department, the following were seized during the search:

• 17 firearms
• Various firearm components in varying stages of assembly
• Firearm manufacturing machinery
• Several firearm suppressors
• 4 Ballistic plate carrier vests with steel ballistic plates
• Ballistic helmets
• Numerous large-capacity magazines
• Tens of thousands of rounds of varying caliber ammunition

Two Beaumont residents, Ronald Partain Jr, 54, and Michael Ortega, 46 were arrested on suspicion of various weapons-related charges and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility. Both men are convicted felons and are legally barred from owning any firearms.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Deputy Cooley with the Riverside County Gang Task Force, Region 2, at 951-766-2553.

A man recalls the terrifying moment he was beaten and robbed while working at his family’s taco truck in Long Beach — the second time they’ve now been targeted.

The victim, Erick Flores, was working at the Los Bros Tacos truck located on Junipero Avenue and 7th Street when two suspects suddenly approached him on Thursday, May 2.

“They crossed the street and came walking up,” Flores recalled. 

One male suspect was wearing a black hoodie and the other was wearing a red hoodie as Flores, who worked as a cashier in front of the food truck, spotted them.

As the man in the black hoodie began ordering food, that’s when his accomplice made his move.

“The guy with the red sweater ended up grabbing my hand and was struggling to get the money out,” Flores said.

Surveillance video captured the tense confrontation as Flores tried to fend off the robbers. As he yanked his hands away, that’s when the thieves knocked Flores to the ground and repeatedly punched him in the face.

“I remember he was screaming at me but I don’t actually remember what he was saying,” Flores said, still stunned. “Everything happened so fast.”

Flores’ coworker, Manuel Antonio, noticed the commotion and stepped into action. He was able to chase the suspects away but not before the men escaped with the money and some cash from Flores’ pocket.

He was left with a broken nose and was found bloodied and bruised by his coworkers.

Antonio can relate to Flores’ experience as he was also robbed at gunpoint and beaten while working the Los Bros Taco truck back in December 2023. The truck had only been serving the Long Beach location for two months back then.

“This was our dream goal to start a business and flourish as a family,” Flores said of his family’s truck.

Flores was filling in for his mother on the night he was attacked. He said he was relieved it was him who was there instead and that he is alive.

However, after the violent incident, the family said serving the Long Beach community has taken a toll and is considering whether the city is the best place for their future.

A GoFundMe page created to help Flores with medical bills and to replace the stolen money can be found here.

The suspects remain at large as police continue investigating the incident. Anyone with information can call Long Beach police at 562-570-7260.

Residents in a Beverly Grove neighborhood are terrified after a burglary crew has relentlessly targeted the area in a string of costly thefts.

Neighbors said the burglars are hitting homes on an almost daily basis, oftentimes staking out potential properties before striking.

Many homeowners have increased security measures by installing cameras and motion sensors around their properties. 

However, it seems those preventative measures have not deterred the thieves. 

Over the last several months, multiple attempted break-ins were captured on surveillance cameras but the suspects ran away when they realized someone was home.

However on May 2, the suspects finally succeeded after homeowners Eddie and Lina left their house in the morning.

The suspects were seen climbing on the backside of the home to gain entry through a second-story balcony, 

They smashed in a glass door and ransacked the house, escaping with items such as family heirlooms, jewelry and other valuable property.

Eddie and Lina said there have been nearly a dozen burglaries in the area over the last several months, leaving many homeowners afraid.

“I think that we’re under siege,” Eddie said. “I don’t know how else to put it. Every day there’s something going on in our street and the streets surrounding us. Every day we don’t know who’s getting attacked, who’s getting broken into, who’s getting home invaded and it’s all hours of the day, all hours of the night.”

“We don’t feel safe in our own homes,” Lina said. “It’s not okay. It’s no way to live.”

A recent attempted break-in was unsuccessful after a homeowner was able to catch a burglar in his backyard at a home on Maryland Drive.

The victims said they later received a note from the district attorney’s office, explaining plans for the suspect’s prosecution but have not heard any updates since.

Eddie, Lina and other victims believe the same criminals hit two other homes in the neighborhood just a week earlier. Those thefts were captured on surveillance footage as the thieves were seen rummaging around.

“It’s just terrible that this is what it’s become,” Lina said. “It trickles down. Look at our local government, look at our district attorney. What’s happening? It’s not working. Who’s benefitting from all these changes? Not us.”

Anyone with information on the break-ins can call the Los Angeles Police Department at 1-877-527-3247.