Hawks, Ghost Guns, Stolen Vehicles Found In Coachella: Cops

COACHELLA, CA — Three caged red-tailed hawks being fed an apparent diet of hot dogs and lunch meat were among the discoveries detailed by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department following two search warrant services Wednesday afternoon in Coachella.

The Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force, with the assistance of the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, served the search warrants around 12 p.m. at a residence in the 50000 block of Goya Drive and at a ranch near Dillon Road and Vista Del Norte.

During the searches, officers found several stolen vehicles, including a Ford F-750 water truck, a toy hauler, trailer, Honda all-terrain vehicle, John Deere Gator, and a Ditch Witch stolen from a local Home Depot store, according to the sheriff's department.

Also found during the searches were two loaded 9mm semi-automatic handguns hidden inside parked vehicles on the properties.

The "illegally possessed" weapons had no serial numbers and were determined to be ghost guns, according to the sheriff's department.

Officers also found three red-tailed hawks held captive in a small backyard cage at the Goya Drive residence.

"The birds of prey appeared to be living in substandard conditions while being confined to the small cage and being fed a diet of hot dogs and lunch meat," the sheriff's department reported.

Officers turned the wild birds over to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for relocation to a rehabilitation center.

Eduardo Pantaleon Sr., 48, of Coachella was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen vehicles, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of birds of prey, and felony animal cruelty, according to the sheriff's department.

Also arrested were Eduardo Pantaleon Jr., 18, of Coachella on suspicion of a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and Andrew Ochoa, 41, of Coachella on suspicion of possession of stolen vehicles, and an outstanding arrest warrant for possession of narcotics for sales, the sheriff's department reported.