East SBV Times

On December 16, 2024, a lethal force incident occurred on a rail line in Redlands. A deputy from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Transit Operations Division responded to a trespassing report between Nevada Street and California Street. The suspect, identified as Jefte Vargas Ramirez, 37, of Redlands, was found on the tracks.

The deputy instructed Vargas Ramirez to leave the area due to train traffic danger. However, Vargas Ramirez refused and became confrontational. He armed himself with rocks and approached the deputy aggressively, resulting in gunfire. Despite medical aid at the scene and transport to a hospital, Vargas Ramirez was pronounced dead.

The involved deputy was unharmed during the encounter. Detectives from the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division are leading an investigation into the incident.

Detective Tyler Loup is available for contact regarding this case at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can be submitted via We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.

Sheriff-Coroner Shannon Dicus of the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department has provided these details.