San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
Recent News About San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
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Escaped inmate located in Los Angeles area and taken into custody
On June 16, 2024, at approximately 12:19 p.m., deputies at the West Valley Detention Center discovered inmate Deshaun Stamps had escaped custody during an outside recreation period. Stamps, a 29-year-old resident of Riverside, has been in custody since January 30, 2023, for attempted murder.
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Rancho Cucamonga man arrested for mother's murder
On June 15, 2024, at approximately 9:24 a.m., deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department responded to a welfare check request on Kathryn Morales in the 9200 block of Milliken Avenue. The caller expressed concern after not hearing from Kathryn for several days.
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San Bernardino County initiates Operation Consequences targeting gang activity
Between June 15 and June 21, 2024, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, along with deputies from patrol stations, served eight search warrants and contacted suspects at various locations in Ontario, Rialto, Hesperia, and Rancho Cucamonga.
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Operation Smash & Grab leads to multiple arrests in San Bernardino County
Between May 31 and June 13, 2024, investigators from multiple agencies conducted retail theft operations throughout San Bernardino County. The coordinated effort, named Operation Smash & Grab, resulted in seven felony arrests, 12 misdemeanor arrests, and the recovery of $5,038 in property.
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Inmate dies after cardiac arrest during medical exam
On June 11, 2024, at approximately 4:00 p.m., inmate Kim Ray Stevens, a 61-year-old resident of Fontana, was transported to the hospital from West Valley Detention Center for ongoing medical care. During a medical examination, Stevens experienced cardiac arrest. Despite attempts at lifesaving measures, he was pronounced deceased by hospital staff.
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Inmate attempts stabbing of deputy at West Valley Detention Center
On June 11, 2024, at approximately 2:45 p.m., an incident occurred at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Inmate Christopher Lommie Jackson, a 25-year-old resident of San Bernardino who has been in custody since 2019 for murder, armed himself with a jail-made metal knife and attempted to stab another inmate. When deputies intervened, Jackson tried to stab a deputy and knocked him to the ground. Responding deputies stopped the assault.
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San Bernardino County launches Operation Consequences to suppress targeted crimes
Between June 8 and June 14, 2024, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, along with deputies from patrol stations, served seven search warrants and contacted suspects at various locations in Apple Valley, Rialto, San Bernardino, and Ontario.
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Operation Consequences yields arrests and firearm seizures in week-long effort
Between June 1 and June 7, 2024, investigators from the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division, Specialized Enforcement Division, and multiple patrol stations, along with personnel from various law enforcement agencies, continued targeted crime suppression efforts under Operation Consequences.
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Operation Shelter Me connects homeless residents in San Bernardino with essential services
On June 7, 2024, the Community Service & Reentry Division's Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.) conducted "Operation Shelter Me" in San Bernardino and surrounding unincorporated areas. The operation aimed to connect staff with unhoused residents to offer housing, medical, and mental health treatment services.
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San Bernardino Sheriff's operation leads to arrests in retail theft case
On June 3, 2024, Miguel Rosales, a 40-year-old resident of Azusa, and Iveth Carrion, a 39-year-old resident of Whittier, were arrested by investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for conspiracy to commit commercial burglary. The arrests followed an extensive investigation into a series of thefts at TJX Company stores in San Bernardino County and surrounding areas between September 2023 and May 2024. The suspects allegedly stole merchandise valued at approximately $5,359.78.
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Detectives investigate death of inmate at West Valley Detention Center
On June 2, 2024, detectives initiated an investigation into the in-custody death of Benjamin Jose Medina at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. The incident occurred on May 25, 2024, when Medina, a 43-year-old resident of Fontana, collapsed in a housing segment at approximately 5:55 p.m.
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Operation Consequences targets gang activity in San Bernardino County
Between May 25 and May 31, 2024, investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, alongside deputies from patrol stations, executed six search warrants and contacted suspects at various locations in Ontario, Fontana, and Rialto.
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Multi-agency campaign targets illegal off-road vehicle activity in San Bernardino
On May 30, 2024, a multi-agency off-road and trespass enforcement campaign was conducted in the Lytle/Cajon Creek area, Devils Diversion Channel, and neighboring regions within both unincorporated and incorporated areas of San Bernardino. The operation also covered the Santa Ana River section running through San Bernardino, Rialto, and Colton.
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Retail theft crackdown recovers over $6K in merchandise
Between May 17 and May 30, 2024, investigators from multiple agencies conducted retail theft operations throughout San Bernardino County. The agencies involved included the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, Rancho Cucamonga Station, San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino Police Department.
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Arizona murder suspect apprehended after shootout with deputies in Twentynine Palms
On May 28, 2024, a lethal force encounter occurred after Brent Phillip Soster, a 43-year-old resident of Twentynine Palms and murder suspect, opened fire on deputies in the Twentynine Palms area. The incident began when the Mohave County Arizona Sheriff’s Department alerted the Colorado River Station about Soster's presence in the Needles area.
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Three unsheltered families placed through Operation Shelter Me in Victorville
On May 24, 2024, from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Community Service & Reentry Division's Homeless Outreach Proactive Enforcement Team (H.O.P.E.) conducted "Operation Shelter Me" in Victorville and surrounding unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County. The operation aims to connect staff with unhoused residents to offer housing, medical, and mental health treatment services. The focus was on individuals with significant mental illness to link them to restorative mental health pathways.
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Retail theft operation leads to multiple arrests in San Bernardino County
Between May 3 and May 16, 2024, investigators from the Rancho Cucamonga Station, the Gangs/Narcotics Division, the San Bernardino County Probation Department, Homeland Security Investigations, California Highway Patrol, and the San Bernardino Police Department conducted retail theft operations throughout San Bernardino County.
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Detectives investigate in-custody death at Central Detention Center
On May 21, 2024, at approximately 4:21 a.m., deputies at the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino responded to a medical emergency within a housing unit. Aaron Luciano Ornelas, a 37-year-old resident of Colton, was discovered hanging from a metal vent in the shower. Deputies and medical staff performed life-saving measures until American Medical Response and San Bernardino County Fire personnel arrived and took over medical care. Despite their efforts, Ornelas was pronounced deceased at the scene.
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Homicide investigation underway after fatal shooting in Twentynine Palms
On May 20, 2024, at approximately 7:49 p.m., deputies from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station were alerted to a disturbance involving four to five individuals drinking alcohol near Alpine Road and Old Dale Road in Twentynine Palms. A local resident who confronted the group reported that one of the individuals, identified as Rudy Garcia, became confrontational and fired several shots. The resident was not injured.
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Skeletal remains found in Loma Linda confirmed not human after coroner's examination
On May 19, 2024, at approximately 11:29 a.m., deputies from the Central Station responded to the 11400 block of San Timoteo Canyon Road in Loma Linda following a report of discovered skeletal remains on the property. Initially believed to be human, the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division assumed responsibility for the investigation.