Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials are reminding the public to observe no trespassing signs that have been placed at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony after someone vandalized the property.
Cottage at Dorland Mountain Arts Colony offers breathtaking views of Temecula Valley below. (File: Kerri S. Mabee/SWRNN)
According to a report, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of vandalism on Monday, March 11 at the unmaintained dirt road extension of Pauba Road, just south of the intersection with SR 79 South, in the unincorporated Rancho California area of Temecula.
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“Representatives from the Dorland Arts Colony found a spray-painted sign on the property which bore a specific threat to shoot the people responsible for cleaning up the property and removing items left there by target shooters, along with new bullet holes in the trespassing signage,” said Sgt. Steve Fredericks.
For years, recreational shooters have used a vacant site along Pauba Road, just off state Route 74, for target practice, believing the grounds were under the control of the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
“Noise complaints and high volumes of refuse left at the location prompted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Dorland Arts Colony, the county of Riverside and BLM to conduct extensive research which confirmed the affected area belonged to the Dorland Arts Colony,” Sgt. Fredericks said.
The recent vandalism is being investigated as a felony criminal threat, Fredericks said.
Evidence was collected at the scene.
Anyone having information related to the threats made against Dorland Arts Colony, or other vandalism and trespassing occurring at the property is encouraged to contact Lieutenant Matt Aveling or Sergeant Steve Fredericks of the Southwest Station at 951-696-3000.
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The key stone cops do very little to run this type of activity off, they always tell you to put up signs and lights and put the burden in our hands, I go out on clean up all over Riverside County and it seem like its just a dumping ground, a lot of the shooters are with LAPD and if you tell them any thing they look at you like a newspaper delivery person. If their on open land and shooting what gives them the right to leave their trash all over, since everyone looks the other way and points the finger at someone else I guess nothing will ever improve. Maybe the next time they want a pay raise we should look the other way.