BLYTHE, Calif. — A convicted felon suspected of stealing a dirt bike in a rural area near Blythe was arrested Monday after deputies found him hiding in a shed with guns and drugs.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, 35-year-old Rene Francisco Tapia was located on the 9600 block of North Broadway during the execution of a search warrant. Deputies from the Colorado River Sheriff’s Station, assisted by Blythe Police, surrounded the property and called for Tapia to surrender. He was eventually taken into custody without incident.
Inside the shed, deputies recovered three firearms and approximately 82 grams of a methamphetamine-like substance. Authorities said Tapia, due to his felony record, is prohibited from owning firearms or ammunition.
Tapia was booked into the Blythe Jail on the outstanding felony warrant and additional charges related to firearm and drug possession. The stolen dirt bike was also recovered at the scene.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.
