Deputies in Apple Valley responded to an incident at a Walgreens on State Highway 18 on May 9, 2025. They were called for an unwanted person and found Cesar Villalpando, a 32-year-old resident of Apple Valley, in a bathroom stall. Villalpando appeared to be under the influence of drugs but was detained without incident.
Medical personnel evaluated Villalpando at the scene and cleared him for booking. However, upon arrival at the High Desert Detention Center around 5:10 p.m., he was unresponsive. Deputies administered Narcan and jail medical staff attempted lifesaving measures before transporting him to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division has taken over the investigation, with an autopsy planned by the Riverside County Coroner to determine the cause of death.
Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus from the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department urges anyone with information about this case to contact Detective C. Lopez at the Specialized Investigations Division by calling 909-890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted through We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME or wetip.com.
