Riverside County Sheriff's Department - Canyon Lake Station

If a family member, a loved one or or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Canyon Lake Police Department (really the Riverside Sheriff’s Department), it can cause a lot of angst, mostly just from uncertainty of what will happen or can happen.  Moreover, one is dependent upon the competence, honesty and accuracy and competence of a sheriff’s deputy, who may or may not be experienced or have the same sense of urgency as you in having the police report properly written.  

Facing such a situation, knowing the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense or offenses at issue if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release may decrease the uncertainty.  It is also well worth the time to research what facts or evidence is needed to convict one for the crime or crimes that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime or crimes.  

We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is helpful to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be wise to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, a bit of history about the town, city or area, and the most common types of crimes the department investigates to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective and makes assumptions that may be wrong.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The City of Canyon Lake contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Lake Elsinore station, to provide law enforcement services for the gated community of Canyon Lake.  In other words, Canyon Lake does not have its own police department.  

Moreover, the Lake Elsinore station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Station also services the City of Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, as well as certain surrounding areas of these cities. 

Canyon Lake is only 4.66 square miles and has a population of just 11,082 as of the 2020 census.  

Canyon Lake began as a master-planned community developed by the Corona Land Company in 1968.  The City of Canyon Lake was incorporated on December 1, 1990.  Railroad Canyon Dam was built in 1927 and collects water from the San Jacinto River to fill the reservoir, which covers 383 acres and has 14.9 miles of shoreline.

For arrests within Canyon Lake, one may be transported to the Lake Elsinore station of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may be held there or transported to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning until bail is posted or the person is transferred to the Riverside County Jail, also called the Robert Presley Detention Center in downtown Riverside.

As of 2010, Canyon Lake’s population was 98.5% non-Hispanic white, 0% Asian, 0.1% African American and 1.4% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of the Canyon Lake Police Department’s areas of responsibility are brought at the Banning Courthouse or the Riverside Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street in downtown Riverside.  Cases that may be filed at the Riverside Hall of Justice instead of at the Banning Courthouse would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Over the last 25 years, our office has not handled a case arising out of Canyon Lake.  However, we would expect such cases to include, but not be limited to DUI, domestic violence, possession and / or sales of a controlled substance and violation of a civil protective order.

However, we have received phone calls from people in Canyon Lake asking about hiring a criminal defense attorney.  We find that locals to the Canyon Lake area often distrust local criminal defense attorneys as being social friends with prosecutors and judges, so they are unwilling to fight too hard to preserve their friendships, so we are considered as counsel instead because we presumably have no such ties or loyalties.

Areas Served:  The City of Canyon Lake.

Below is the Google Map to the Riverside Canyon Lake Sheriff's Station.