RPD Behind the Badge

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

Redlands Police arrested a suspected cat burglar Tuesday morning, hours after he broke into a home while the residents slept, loading stolen items into the family’s car before stealing it.
The victims reported the burglary early Tuesday morning, Aug. 18. The burglar entered the residence in the 800 block of West Cypress Avenue through a window at about 5 a.m. that morning. He took keys to the victim’s 2001 Buick Century and went through the house taking miscellaneous items, including computer and stereo equipment, and loaded them into the vehicle.
The vehicle was later located near Clifton Avenue and Sherwood Street.
Police located the suspect, 23-year-old Patrick King, of Redlands, nearby and identified him through witness statements and evidence located at the crime scene. Police recovered most of the stolen property which was returned to the victims.
Investigators recovered other property in King’s possession from two additional vehicle burglaries. Anyone who has been the victim of a vehicle or residential burglary since July is asked to contact Detective Leslie Martinez at (909) 335-4777 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The Weekly Feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA. 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands CA

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Shelter 504. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlighs adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N Kansas St. Redlands CA. 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

*Police investigate after men approach young girls

Police are investigating two separate incidents in which men approached young girls in a neighborhood Monday. In one instance, a man tried to coax a girl into his car.

The first incident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, near the intersection of Herald Street and Sun Avenue. The 12-year-old victim was walking to a bus stop when she was approached by a man in a car, described as a dark blue Honda Accord.

The man yelled to the girl to get into his car, but left when the girl walked away. The vehicle was last seen heading east on Sun Avenue.

The suspect was described as a black man in his 40s, with a heavy build and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a navy blue jacket and a navy blue baseball cap.

Later, at about 6:30 p.m. near the intersection of Alta Street and Sun Avenue another 12-year-old girl was approached by a man driving a newer model red 4-door vehicle with tinted windows.

The driver asked the girl her name and another man inside the vehicle commented on her appearance. The men then drove away. The vehicle was last seen heading west on Sun.

The driver of that vehicle was described as a black man between 20 and 30 years old with a mustache.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ben Zimmermann at (909) 798-7580 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

*Police seek help identifying assault suspect through tattoos

Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying the men who assaulted a 14-year-old Redlands girl near Orangewood High School last week.

Investigators are hoping to identify at least one of two men who grabbed and fondled the teen through the man’s distinctive tattoos.

The girl was walking on the railroad tracks east of Texas Street and north of Oriental Avenue at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, when she was approached by two men.

One of the men grabbed her from behind while the other fondled her through her clothing. When the girl screamed, the man hit her in the face. The men then ran away toward Texas Street.

Both men are described as Hispanic. One of them, a thin man in his teens, had distinctive “sleeved” tattoos of graffiti-style writing on his right arm. On the right bicep was a tattoo of a skull with fire coming from its eyes.

The other was a heavyset man in his 30s with a gang-style tattoo on his neck.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ben Zimmermann at (909) 798-7580 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

*Girl assaulted while walking along tracks near school

A 14-year-old Redlands girl was assaulted near Orangewood High School Wednesday by two men who grabbed and fondled her then struck her and ran away when she screamed.

The girl was walking on the railroad tracks east of Texas Street and north of Oriental Avenue at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, when she was approached by two men.

One of the men grabbed her from behind while the other fondled her through her clothing. When the girl screamed, the man hit her in the face. The men then ran away toward Texas Street.

The men are described as Hispanic. One was heavyset, approximately 30 years old, with a gang tattoo on his neck.

The other man was in his late teens, had a thin build and tattoos on his arms.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Ben Zimmermann at (909) 798-7580 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

*Armed man holds up check cashing business

Redlands Police are looking for a suspect after a check cashing business was held up at gunpoint Wednesday evening.

The robber entered the business, Check Into Cash, at 434 Orange St., shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, brandished a handgun and demanded money from the cash register as well as property from the store clerk.

He left on foot, heading west. No vehicle was seen.

The robber is described as a black man in his mid 20s, 6 feet tall. He was wearing a white beanie, blue jeans and a blue jacket.

Police searched the area but were unable to locate a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Rob Williams at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

*Vandal suspect suspected of trying to drum up glass repair jobs

A glazer apparently trying to drum up glass repair business was arrested Monday afternoon in connection with a series of window smash vandalisms Sunday.

Timothy Carl Klenke, 50, was arrested at his home in the 200 block of East San Bernardino Avenue shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2.

Police received five separate calls Sunday afternoon and evening of windows smashed on vehicles on Hartzell and Glover streets and to businesses in the 400 block of Tennessee Street, the 1500 block of Orange Street and the 800 block of Colton Avenue.

Witnesses at two of the businesses reported seeing a man in a Honda Civic and one witness was able to provide a partial license plate number.

Police dispatcher Annette DeWoody queried the department’s computerized records for Honda Civics against the partial plate and came up with a match to Klenke.

Officer Dale Peters contacted Klenke at his Redlands home and located a slingshot and projectiles in his car that matched those used to smash the windows. Police believe Klenke damaged the windows and planned to later contact the businesses or vehicle owners offering to repair them for a fee. Police also believe Klenke was preparing to damage more windows when he was arrested.

Investigators are seeking other potential victims. Anyone who may have had their windows damaged by vandals or anyone with additional information is asked to contact Officer Dale Peters at (909) 798-7681.

*Volunteer rangers credited for finding woman in need of aid

Redlands Police Department volunteer Park Rangers, on a routine check of Oakmont Park, found a 19-year-old woman unresponsive and in need of medical aid.

Park Rangers Billy Buster and Bruce Heinrich were conducting a property check of the park at South Lane and Sutherland Drive shortly after 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30, when they saw an apparently unattended 2007 Toyota Tacoma in the park.

As they approached the vehicle to check it, they saw the woman slumped over inside, unresponsive.

Redlands Fire Department paramedics responded to the park and administered aid. The woman responded to treatment and was transported to the hospital.

It was determined that the woman had overdosed on heroin.

The Police Department’s volunteer Park Ranger program is an extension of the department’s successful Citizen Volunteer Patrol. Volunteers attend an academy where they learn police policies and procedures and are trained to deal with a variety of situations.

The Citizen Volunteer Park Rangers unit was formed in January 2008 to assist the department in patrolling City parks and citrus groves, the Santa Ana River Wash and San Timoteo Canyon. The CVPRs patrol on horseback, ATVs, Segways, mountain bikes and on foot.

Police Chief Jim Bueermann lauded the volunteer park rangers for their role in potentially saving a life.

“I’ve said many times, this department and this City would be a very different place without dedicated volunteers, such as these Citizen Volunteer Park Rangers,” Bueermann said. “Many cities have fulltime park rangers who focus on protecting the public’s interests in parks and publicly owned open space. Our City’s current financial constraints preclude hiring such employees. However, the RPD has a rich history of leveraging its employee resources through the use of volunteers to meet increasing public safety demands and expectations.”

“These park rangers – like all the volunteer members of this department – are exceptional heroes.”

Anyone interested in joining the Citizen Volunteer Park Ranger program is encouraged to contact the program supervisor Cpl. Rachel Tolber at (909) 798-7623.

*Suspect charged in early morning drive-by shooting

Redlands Police Department surveillance cameras played a key role in charges filed against a Victorville man Thursday in connection with a drive-by shooting at a Redlands home a day earlier.

Johnnie Barella, 21, of Victorville was in custody at West Valley Detention Center on a separate charge when he was charged in the Jan. 28 shooting in the 700 block of Clark Street in Redlands. No one was injured in the shooting.

Police received several calls reporting shots fired in the 700 block of Clark Street shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday. Investigators found shell casings in the area and a number of shots struck a home nearby where several people, including children, were sleeping.

Using witness statements that described a white Chevrolet quad cab pickup truck seen immediately after the shooting, investigators were able to review commercial surveillance video at a nearby business and Police Department surveillance cameras positioned along Orange Street to track the vehicle’s movements before and after the shooting. In addition, the video showed aspects of the vehicle which allowed investigators to positively identify it later as the one belonging to Barella.

Through investigation, detectives identified Barella as the driver. Detectives contacted Barella at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies had arrested Barella, who was on parole, hours after the shooting in Victorville. In the cab of his truck, which matched the one seen after the shooting, they found a 9 mm handgun and spent cartridges. Barella was arrested for parole violations and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Redlands Police interviewed Barella and charged him with the drive-by shooting. Investigators believe Barella had unintentionally targeted the wrong house.

Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann credited the Police Department’s surveillance cameras with helping detectives piece together evidence leading to Barella’s arrest.

“This is an example where technology leverages good police work to lead to the arrest of a violent criminal,” Bueermann said. “Even when surveillance cameras can’t record the crime in progress, they can be valuable, as they were in this instance, in piecing together the movements of a suspect and providing detectives with the clues and evidence they need.”

“Fortunately, no one was hurt or killed in this shooting, but this was a violent crime nonetheless and I’m happy that the technology was available to assist in this investigation and bring the criminal to justice.”

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Stephen Crane at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

Police seek man who groped woman as she walked

Police investigated after a 19-year-old woman reported she was groped by a man who ran up behind her as she walked along a street Wednesday.

The victim was walking east on Colton Avenue near Oxford and Lombard streets at about 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. A man ran up from behind, reached inside the woman’s jacket and grabbed her breast. When the victim screamed, the man ran away north on Oxford.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s or 30s, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 240 pounds, with dark hair and a full beard.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA. 92373

Armed man holds up beauty supply store

Redlands Police are investigating an armed robbery at a beauty supply shop Tuesday evening.

An employee at a neighboring business called police shortly before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, when she observed a man armed with a handgun pointed at an employee of Sally’s Beauty Supply at 2054 W. Redlands Blvd.

The robber demanded money from the beauty supply shop employee then fled out the back door of the business and was last seen running behind the business toward California Street.

He was described as a white man, about 6 feet tall, wearing sunglasses, a dark beanie and a white flannel jacket.

Police, aided by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter, searched the area but were unable to locate a suspect.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Redlands Police Department Investigations Bureau at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

Early morning shots fired at occupied home; no one hurt

Several shots were fired into a house early Wednesday morning while the residents were sleeping inside. No one was injured.

Police received several calls reporting shots fired in the 700 block of Clark Street shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. Investigators found shell casings in the area and a number of shots struck a home nearby where several people, including children, were sleeping.

Witnesses said they saw a white Chevrolet Silverado quad cab, short bed pickup truck with a modified exhaust system leaving the street immediately after the shots were fired. The truck was driven by a short Hispanic man in his 20s with short hair and wearing a white short-sleeved shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stephen Crane at (909) 798-7659 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands, CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights Adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504. N. Kansas St. Redlands CA 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands Ca 92373

The weekly feature highlights adoptable animals at the Redlands Animal Shelter 504 N. Kansas St. Redlands CA. 92373

Redlands Police are investigating the armed robbery of a doughnut shop Monday night.
Two men entered the Foster’s Donuts shop in the 700 block of Tennessee Street at about 9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, armed with a gun and demanded money from the register. The robbers escaped on foot with the cash.
The doughnut shop employee received a minor laceration to his head when one of the robbers struck him.
The robbers are described as a black male adult, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall with a medium build; and a light-skinned black or Hispanic male adult, between 6 feet and 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and about 250 pounds.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stephen Crane at (909) 798-7642 or Redlands Police Dispatch at (909) 798-7681.

Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann discusses the value of volunteers to the department.

Redlands Police Chief Jim Bueermann learns about the challenges of police work in post-Apartheid South Africa from Johannesburg Police Chief Mzwandile "Chris" Ngcobo, during the Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar at the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA.

Redlands Police Department Investigator Jesse Marquez alerts citizens how to avoid becoming a victim of fraud and warns those who may become criminally liable by perpetuating fraudulent schemes.