Former Riverside officer pleads not guilty to robberies, other charges

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Former Riverside officer pleads not guilty to robberies, other charges

October 30, 2009

By JOHN ASBURY
The Press-Enterprise

A former Riverside police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to a dozen counts of robbery, kidnapping and weapons charges related to three holdups at Auto Zone stores in Moreno Valley and Riverside.

David Reeves Jr., 28, entered the plea at the Riverside Hall of Justice flanked by two newly hired private attorneys. A judge set a pre-trial scheduling hearing for Dec. 10.

Reeves was arrested Oct. 14 after police said they caught him attempting to rob an Auto Zone on Sunnymead Boulevard in Moreno Valley while he was off duty. Reeves is suspected of robbing that same store days earlier and robbing the Auto Zone on Van Buren Boulevard in Riverside.

Reeves' employment with the Riverside Police Department ended the day after his arrest. He has a lawsuit pending that claims he was harassed for a disability when he was accused of being under the influence at work.

If convicted, Reeves could face 35 years in prison.