Lake Elsinore Motel Guests Arrested During Burglary Investigation

A burglary investigation in Lake Elsinore continues to unfurl, police are reporting.

During an Oct. 4 search warrant service at the Best Western on Casino Drive, the Lake Elsinore Police Department Special Enforcement Team made four arrests of motel guests in connection with the investigation.

Joel Viramontes, 34 – the primary suspect – along with Brian Hayden, 24, Chanel Gray, 29, and Tina Gagnon, 34, were all arrested, according to Sgt. Raymond Nava of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

“During service of the search warrant, officers located meth and various items of stolen property,” Nava stated in a news release. “Further investigation tied Gray and Viramontes to a stolen vehicle, which contained burglary tools, in the parking lot.”

Viramontes was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, and committing crimes while out on bail; Hayden was booked for possession of methamphetamine and being under the influence; Gray was nabbed for vehicle theft and Gagnon for a misdemeanor warrant, the sergeant reported.

The investigation continued Friday when a second search warrant related to the original case was served in the 1100 block of Cleveland Court, Nava stated. Today officers located various items of stolen property linked to the alleged crime.

“Additional charges of possession of stolen property will be filed on Viramontes,” the sergeant said.