The Valley Chronicle - Weapons Arrest

Weapons Arrest

On January 13, 2021, at 5:00 A.M., deputies assigned to the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), served a search warrant at a residence in the 5100 block of La Ponderosa in the city of Coachella. The search warrant stemmed from a negligent discharge of a firearm investigation from New Year’s Eve.  During the search warrant service, a short-barreled AR-15 rifle was located and seized. Alejandro Cota, 18 of Coachella, was arrested for possession of a prohibited weapon and possession of a short-barreled rifle.  Cota was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in the city of Indio. [caption id="attachment_18328" align="alignright" width="96"] Alejandro Cota[/caption] Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Ruiz with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867). For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.