News 24/7

Man dies in Apple Valley collision

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:09:51 -0800

A 48-year-old Los Angeles man died after his Jeep Cherokee was hit by a tow truck Saturday morning.

Jose Velasquez was driving west on Stoddard Wells Road in his 2005 Jeep Cherokee when a tow truck traveling north on Dale Evans Parkway hit him broadside, according to the San Bernardino County Coroner's Department.

Velasquez died at the scene. His passenger and the tow truck driver were treated at local hospitals and released.

Investigators from the Apple Valley Sheriff's station are looking into the collision.

-jannise.johnson@inlandnewspapers.com

Apple Valley man dies in motorcycle crash

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 07:00:21 -0800

A motorcyclist was killed Monday night in Hesperia when he was struck by a truck.

Paramedics flew Rodney Mueller, 58, of Apple Valley, to Loma Linda University Medical Center where he died at 11:55 p.m., San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.

Mueller was riding a 1994 Suzuki 1400 motorcycle north on Eleventh Avenue at 10:33 p.m.

Someone in a utility-type truck who was driving south on Eleventh struck Mueller while turning east onto Sequoia Street.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Coroner's identify man who landed on rooftop after traffic collision

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:13:48 -0800

Authorities have identified a man who was killed this morning in a collision after being thrown from his vehicle, landing on a nearby rooftop, as 23-year-old Caleb Gerard Butler.

Sheriff's deputies were called about 7:45 a.m. to a traffic accident in the 21000 block of State Highway 18 in Apple Valley. They found a 2004 Kia Sorrento which appeared to have rolled several times before coming to rest in a driveway, deputies said.

Butler was found on the roof of the home. Authorities said that is where he landed after being launched from his vehicle.

Deputies are investigating why Butler lost control of his Kia.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

Driver tossed onto roof of Apple Valley home in fatal rollover crash

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:44:01 -0800

A driver was launched from a flipping vehicle onto the roof of an Apple Valley house where he was found dead this morning, sheriff's officials said.

The unidentified man was driving a 2004 Kia Sorrento west Highway 18 when he veered off the road onto Outer Highway 18 and lost control. The vehicle rolled several times, tossing the man from the vehicle onto the roof of a home in the 21000 block of outer Highway 18, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Trish Hill.

The incident was reported to sheriff's deputies at 7:46 a.m., but it was unknown when the actual crash occurred. Hill said the victim's family had not seen him since about 10:30 p.m. the prior evening.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Vehicle theft suspect leads deputies on chase in Apple Valley

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:42 -0800

A man in a stolen vehicle equipped with LoJack was arrested Tuesday after he led sheriff's deputies on a high-speed chase in Apple Valley.

Gary Lee Cramer, 23, of San Diego, crashed the 2007 Nissan Frontier into a telephone police at the end of the chase near the corner of Nanticoke and Klickitat roads.

A woman reported her car stolen to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department at 11:36 a.m. Deputies picked up the vehicle's LoJack signal at 1:59 p.m. and tried to pull over the driver near the intersection of Otoe and Serrano roads, sheriff's officials said.

The driver reached speeds as high as 80 mph, ran stop signs and then veered off the road into the desert. He lost control of the vehicle, struck a pole and then ran from the vehicle.

Deputies arrested him in the 14600 block of Quinnalt Road.

Cramer was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of vehicle theft, felony evading and receiving stolen property. Deputies arrested a teen girl on suspicion of being an accessory to the crime.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

High wind warning issued for High Desert, mountains

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:49 -0800

Weather forecasters issued a high wind warning through 5 p.m. today, expecting wind gusts as high as 65 mph through the High Desert and San Bernardino Mountains.

The National Weather Service said the winds would blow through Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley, along with the mountains.

By evening forecasters said the winds would shift south and gusts would decrease to 45 55 mph in the deserts of Riverside and San Diego counties.

A wind advisory, signaling strong, but not quite as hazardous winds, is in effect in San Bernardino and surrounding areas from 3 p.m. today until 2 a.m. Wednesday.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Man shot at in Apple Valley dirt field

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:34:07 -0800

An Apple Valley man was arrested Monday after shooting several times at a man he was arguing with in a dirt field, authorities said.

Russell Rawlings, 19, was booked at the Victor Valley jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

The victim called 9-1-1 about 7:45 p.m. to report that Rawlings had just fired a gun at him five times during an argument in the 21000 block of Outer Highway 18. Sheriff's deputies said they found Rawlings, and evidence connecting him to the shooting, inside a home in the 21000 block of Pine Ridge Road.

It is unknown what the men were arguing about.

Anyone with information is asked to call Depty Bryan Faylor at (760) 240-7400.

Off-duty detective finds suspected jewelry thief, revives stalled Victorville investigation

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:44:59 -0800

Sheriff's deputies were able to locate and arrest a suspected jewelry thief more than two months after they say he stole a ring from a Victorville store.

On Jan. 12, a customer stole a $16,650 ring from the Kevin Jewelers at the Mall of Victor Valley, according to a sheriff's news release. Investigators viewed surveillance but had to suspend the case because they didn't know who the man was, and they had exhausted all their leads, according to the release.

Then on Sunday, Detective Robert Vaccari, who was off duty at an Apple Valley gas station, saw a man who looked like the one in the video. Deputies pulled over Alan Ayers, 48, and found the ring where he was living in Apple Valley. His permanent residence is in Colorado.

Vaccari said the high quality of the surveillance video was helpful.

"I made the identification really easy when I saw him," he said.

Ayers has not been arrested, but his case was forwarded to the District Attorney.

Sex offender who deputies say failed to register for almost three decades arrested

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:16:38 -0800

Deputies arrested a convicted sex offender in Apple Valley Monday who hadn't registered with authorities in 27 years, officials said.

Around 11:30 p.m. Monday, deputies stopped John Edmond Smith, 64, at Round Up Way and Central Road because of a number of vehicle violations, according to a sheriff's news release.

Deputies checked Smith's criminal records and learned he is a sex offender who had been living in Southern California and Indiana without registered his residence with authorities. He had been living in the 23000 block of Esaws Road in Apple Valley most recently.

He was booked at Victor Valley Jail in Voctorville on suspicion of failing to register and held on $25,000 bail.

Man fatally shot in Apple Valley identified

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:40:06 -0800

A 54-year-old San Bernardino man fatally shot during a fight in the High Desert on Tuesday has been identified as Oscar Perez.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies are trying to determine whether the shooter was acting in self-defense. Witnesses have said Perez was attacking the other man with a box cutter when the shooting occurred.

The fight broke out about 12:15 p.m. in the 13100 block of Mohawk Road in Apple Valley. Several people were sitting outside their homes when an argument began between Perez and the shooter.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

Apple Valley burglar suspect flees on pink bicycle

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:20:49 -0800

Sheriff's deputies late Wednesday arrested a suspected Apple Valley burglar riding a pink child's bicycle after chasing him through city streets, authorities said.

Michael Maze, 29, was booked at the Victor Valley jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property, resisting arrest and a parole violation. He is being held without bail.

Two deputies recognized Maze, who was wanted for a recent residential burglary, as Maze rode the bike near Highway 18 and Central Road about 10:30 p.m. A short pursuit ensued, which ended after deputies caught up to him on foot.

stacia.glenn@inlandnewspapers.com

San Bernardino man identified as victim in fatal Apple Valley shooting

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 08:00:52 -0800

A man shot dead during a fight outside an Apple Valley duplex has been identified as a 54-year-old San Bernardino resident.

Oscar Perez, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, died at the scene in the 13100 block of Mohawk Road, San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.

The incident at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday began as an argument between neighbors and escalated into fight and then a shooting, San Bernardino County sheriff's officials said.

Coroner's officials said Perez grabbed a box cutter and attacked another person involved in the fight. That person opened fire on Perez. The stabbing victim, who received cuts to his head and chest, was treated and released at an area hospital.

No arrests have been made. Sheriff's investigators were trying to determine if the shooting was in self defense.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

UPDATE: Fatal shoooting in Apple Valley started as fight between neighbors

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:46:33 -0800

A fight between neighbors ended with one shot and killed and the other stabbed Tuesday in Apple Valley.

Around noon, the two men started fighting outside a duplex in the 13000 block of Mohawk Road.

"The fight escalated to involve several individuals," said sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers.

The victim of the stabbing was treated and released at a local hospital. The shooting victim, described as a man in his 50s, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Investigators are interviewing a number of witnesses, Beavers said. She said she did not know what the neighbors were arguing about.

No arrests have been made.

Man fatally shot in Apple Valley

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:48:53 -0800

One man was fatally shot and another stabbed this afternoon during an argument in Apple Valley.

No information on the victims was immediately available.

An argument sparked about noon today outside of a duplex in the 13000 block of Mohawk Road. Several people were sitting outside together when the dispute started, said San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Jodi Miller.

Man killed in Apple Valley motorcycle crash

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:00:55 -0800

A motorcyclist died Sunday when he crashed into a horse trailer on Central Road in Apple Valley.

Patrick Ellis, 54, was flown to Loma Linda University Medical Center where he died at 7:10 p.m., San Bernardino County coroner's officials said.

He was riding north on Central at Nisqually Road at 3:30 p.m. when he struck the trailer, which was being towed by a truck. He was thrown from the bike on impact.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com