Riverside County Cal Fire Firefighter David Renteria arrested for alleged sexual assaults

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CNS) — A Riverside County firefighter suspected of committing multiple sexual assaults was arrested Friday on suspicion of forcible rape and other allegations.

David Renteria III, 51, of Placentia, was taken into custody without incident at his residence on Limerick Drive Friday morning. Renteria was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of the rape, as well as false imprisonment, assault with a deadly weapon, sexual penetration by force and related offenses, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Bail information was not immediately available.

“Cal Fire demands its employees uphold standards of professional conduct both on- and off-duty,” according to an agency statement released to City News Service Friday. “Renteria was served with administrative time off paperwork and has not returned to duty since Cal Fire was made aware of the allegations on Jan. 4, 2026.”

Sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Wolfe said that personnel from the county’s Anti- Human Trafficking Task Force, which is comprised of investigators from several agencies, received information on an undisclosed date indicating Renteria, a firefighter-paramedic, allegedly had been involved in two separate sex crimes.

The names of the two women were not disclosed, nor were the circumstances behind the alleged assaults.

Sufficient evidence was gathered to procure and serve a warrant at the suspect’s home, Wolfe said.

Renteria’s length of service with Cal Fire, with which the county has long contracted for fire protection services, could not immediately be confirmed.

“Cal Fire has fully cooperated with the sheriff’s office throughout this investigation and appreciates their ongoing efforts to seek justice,” the agency said. “We remain committed to supporting the process and ensuring accountability.”

Investigators believe there may be additional victim. Anyone with information was asked to call the sheriff’s office at either 951-955-1700 or 951-776-1099.