Hemet - Neighbor Armed With A Gun Chases Burglary Suspect

On 06-02-19 shortly before 3:00 pm, the Hemet Police Dispatch Center began receiving calls from the area of the 400 block of S. Harvard Street about someone trying to break into an occupied home in the area. While en route to the area, officers were advised that a neighbor had confronted the person trying to break into the home. The neighbor was armed with a handgun.

After being confronted by the armed neighbor, the suspect took off running and the neighbor gave chase. Hemet Police officers arrived and located the two men a couple blocks away near the intersection of Carmalita Street and Central Avenue. Both were detained while additional officers responded to the scene of the attempted burglary to conduct an investigation.

At that location, officers found an elderly woman who was shaken, but otherwise unharmed. Evidence at the home indicated the suspect did in fact attempt to gain entry where the woman was home alone, but fled prior to getting inside.

The handgun the neighbor was carrying was found to be properly registered & lawfully owned. Although the investigation is still on-going, the neighbor was soon released and the handgun was taken home.

The attempted burglary suspect, ID’ed as 20 year old Hemet resident James Ventura, was placed under arrest. He was also found to have an active warrant for his arrest from a previous drug possession charge.

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 Ventura was later transported to Riverside County Jail. Recognizing this incident ended without any injuries & the suspect being arrested, the Hemet Police Department urges alert neighbors to act as eyes & ears only.

Hemet PD recommends neighbors not chase suspects of crimes; too many bad things can happen and we do not want to see well-intended, innocent people in harm’s way.