City of Riverside, CA

09/03/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/03/2026 17:28

Operation Addresses Illegal Activity at Fairmount Park

Published: 09/03/2026

Police Department

LARRY V. GONZALEZ

Chief of Police

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2026

CONTACT:

Detective Steven Espinosa

Public Information Officer

Community Services Bureau

[email protected]

(951) 897-5866 (Media Contact)

OPERATION ADDRESSES ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AT FAIRMOUNT PARK

RIVERSIDE, CA - On Wednesday, September 2, 2026, members of the Riverside Public Safety and Engagement Team (PSET), Riverside Police Department, Riverside Code Enforcement, Riverside County Department of Animal Services, and Parks and Neighborhood Specialists(PANS) participated in a coordinated special enforcement operation at Fairmount Park.

During the operation, personnel contacted individuals occupying encampments located near the playground and carousel areas, including the area behind the Armory. Following their investigations, Riverside Police Department officers took 17 individuals into custody for various violations, including illegal camping, outstanding warrants, probation violations, and trespassing.

Of the 17 arrests, 7 were felony arrests and 10 were misdemeanor arrests. 14 individuals were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, 2 were cited and then transported to a local hospital for medical care, and 1 individual was cited and released at the scene.

Following the enforcement operation, Riverside Code Enforcement personnel canvassed the property and conducted a comprehensive cleanup of the affected areas. Encampment-related materials, abandoned property, trash, rubbish, debris, drug paraphernalia, and other miscellaneous items were removed, restoring the area to a cleaner and safer condition.

The Riverside Police Department and its partner agencies will continue to work collaboratively to address illegal encampments through coordinated enforcement, outreach, and property abatement efforts. These partnerships are essential to preserving Fairmount Park and other public spaces as safe, clean, and accessible areas for residents and visitors to enjoy.

City of Riverside, CA published this content on September 03, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 03, 2026 at 23:28 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]