37 adults and 19 juveniles arrested after deputies bust car club in San Bernardino Co.

Video posted to social media shows a crowd of teenagers attacking a deputy's patrol vehicle in San Bernardino County, California on May 11, 2024. (SBSD)

Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department have arrested a total of 56 people – including 19 juveniles – in connection with what authorities are calling a “car club show incident.”

According to an SBSD press release, a Highland Station deputy was en route to a call on May 11 when he encountered a street takeover at the intersection of Highland and Victoria avenues in San Bernardino.

“As the deputy attempted to disperse the crowd, bystanders surrounded the marked sheriff’s patrol vehicle and proceeded to vandalize it,” SBSD said. “The spectators damaged the windshield and body panels of the patrol vehicle.”

A 15-year-old from Menifee was arrested in connection with the May 24 vandalism of the police cruiser, law enforcement said.

Deputies thoroughly investigated the presence of several car clubs in the High Desert region and found that they all showed similar behavior involving street takeovers and performances in videos posted to social media , the sheriff's department said, adding that some of the participants openly displayed firearms in some. of their positions.

Authorities were able to identify one of the car club's meeting locations as private property in the town of Adelanto. Using evidence obtained during their investigation, deputies wrote and executed several search warrants in the nearby town of Victorville, which turned up stolen firearms and a stolen Dodge Hellcat.

The department launched Operation Consequences on Saturday, and personnel from several sheriff's stations, the SBSD Gang/Narcotics Division and the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force (SANCATT) conducted a “crackdown operation” on abandoned property in Adelanto.

“High Desert automobile clubs entered private property and performed parade maneuvers,” deputies said. “Investigators arrested participants and bystanders as they fled the scene.”

A total of 37 adults and 19 juveniles were arrested, SBSD confirmed. The adults were taken to the High Desert Detention Center before being cited and released.

The juveniles were taken to the Town of Victorville Sheriff's Station, issued a summons and released to the custody of their families.

Additionally, 23 vehicles were towed and another stolen vehicle – a Chevrolet Camaro – was recovered.

“This type of recklessness will not be tolerated in San Bernardino County,” said San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “Arrests will be ensured and cars impounded if these street attacks continue. »

Anyone with information about the May 11 incident or the arrest of the suspects is asked to contact the Victorville Sheriff's Station by calling 760-241-2911 or by calling Sheriff's Dispatch at 760-956 -5001.

To submit an anonymous tip, call the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-782-7463 or visit the We-Tip website.