22 Month Old Male Dies : Death Under Investigation

Big Bear, Ca, January 31, 2012, 4:00pm – According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff Station responded to a call of a child not breathing on January 30th at the Crossings at Big Bear Lake, the new apartments that were built in the middle of last year.  The child was a 22 month old male, and was pronounced deceased at the scene.   According to Johnny Wells, the young boy was Brandon Copley Jr, and his family has no financial support to cover burial costs.  Collection cans for assistance for the family in this difficult time can be found at both 7/11’s and Community Market.  There has also been a memorial account set up at First Mountain Bank to accept donations.  A death investigation is being conducted and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.

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Sheriff Seeking Information On Jorge Hernandez Oropeza

Big Bear, Ca, January 31, 2012, 12:00pm – The Big Bear Sheriffs Station is seeking the publics assistance with information regarding 34 year old resident of Big Bear Lake, Jorge Hernandez Oropeza.  In early January an investigation began which revealed multiple victims of child molestation in 2010, 2011, and in 2001.  Hernandez was booked at the Big Bear Jail on January 26^th by Crimes Against Children detectives for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and bail was set at $250,000.  According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Hernandez was found to be an illegal alien, therefore he is being held on a no bail Title 18 Immigration Hold.  Investigators believe there may be additional victims, and are urging anyone with information to contact Sergeant Roberto Lomeli of the Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 387 –3615.

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Include A Designated Driver In Your Starting Lineup This Weekend

San Bernardino, CA, January 30, 2012, 8:00am – The San Bernardino County Avoid the 25 DUI Campaign is reminding football fans watching the Super Bowl game with friends and family to make the right decision before kickoff and include a designated driver in your game plan. Law Enforcement joins with the national “Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk” message from the National Football League (NFL), the California office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition. The Avoid the 25, DUI Task Force will deploy special patrols on Sunday (February 5th) in several communities throughout the area looking to stop and arrest drivers who are impaired by alcohol or drugs.  The DUI patrols will be looking for the tale-tell signs of an intoxicated driver behind the wheel. The patrols are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

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Sign Up For CERT Early!

Big Bear, Ca, January 26, 2012, 12:00pm – The Big Bear Fire Departments are offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) courses from April 2^nd till the 6^th.  The CERT program is designed to train members of the community as emergency service volunteers. Once trained, CERT volunteers respond to disaster situations by fanning out within their neighborhood putting out small fires, turning off natural gas inlets to damaged homes, performing light search and rescue, and administering basic first aid. Area Representatives and Team Leaders have been established throughout Big Bear Valley but more participation is still needed. As many residents know, Big Bear Valley has seen fires, floods, and earthquakes. Local fire agencies want everyone to be prepared and well trained for disaster situations. The CERT program is a series of five courses, four hours each, providing hands-on training in Emergency Preparedness, Medical Aids, Fire Suppression Techniques, Light Search and Rescue, and Communications. Classes take place April 2^nd through April 6^th, which is a Monday trough Friday from 6pm till 10pm at night at the Paradise Training Facility located at 417 Grenfall in Big Bear City.  Classes fill up quickly so register early by calling the fire department at 866-4668.

Accident on Northshore Blocking Both Lanes In Baldwin Lake Area

Big Bear, Ca, January 20, 2012, 12:00pm - A traffic accident occurred earlier this morning on Northshore Drive, a mile east of Paradise road, which has resulted in the temporary closure of the road between Paradise and Baldwin Lake Road.  The accident involved a Kia, and a semi truck loaded with cinders, with the bed of the semi truck blocking both lanes.  According to Cal Trans the road will be closed for an unknown duration, as 12 tons of cinders will need to be cleaned up, and motorists are advised to use Shay Road to travel in the Baldwin Lake area.

Registered Sex Offender Arrested in Big Bear City

Big Bear, Ca, January 18, 2012, 5:00pm -Shortly after 2:00 p.m. on January 18th, school security officials at Big Bear High School reported a disturbance involving a vehicle illegally parked in a handicapped parking space in the school parking lot.  After being approached by security officers, the occupant of the vehicle caused a verbal disturbance as students were being released from the campus.  Deputy Jeremy King, School Resource Officer for the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, arrived immediately on scene and determined Michael Reilly, a resident of Las Vegas, to be the subject in the vehicle.  A record check of Reilly revealed an active felony warrant for his arrest for failure to appear on a prior charge of possession of narcotics.  Reilly was additionally found to be a sex registrant out of the State of Nevada.  According to the Sheriffs station, Michael Reilly was taken into custody on the outstanding felony warrant and cited for additional charges of being a registered sexual offender on school property.  Reilly was determined to be in the area with a former resident of Big Bear Valley.  Michael Reilly is currently in custody at the Big Bear Jail.  Bail in this matter has been set at $25,000.  A hearing on the outstanding warrant is scheduled for tomorrow at San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Suspect Arrested After Stealing Bear Valley Electric Truck

Big Bear, Ca, January 18, 2012, 1:00pm - On January 17^th at approximately 10:45 a.m., deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a stolen Bear Valley Electric Service vehicle from the 500 block of Orange Avenue in Sugarloaf.  According to the Sheriff’s Department, an employee of Bear Valley Electric Service was shutting off an electric meter at a residence in the area when the employee’s vehicle was stolen.  The employee was able to provide deputies with a description of the suspect and the suspect’s direction of travel.  The vehicle was equipped with a GPS tracking device and Bear Valley Electric Service cooperated with deputies in providing a general vicinity of the whereabouts of the vehicle.   The vehicle was reported to be traveling on Sawmill Rd. towards Moonridge.  The vehicle was recovered at a residence in the 1200 block of Sheephorn Rd. in Big Bear Lake.  Prior to deputies arriving on scene, the suspect fled from the vehicle into the residential neighborhood in Moonridge. Shortly after 2:00 p.m that same day, deputies responded to a call of a residential burglary alarm at a vacation home in the 700 block of Menlo Drive, the same neighborhood where the Bear Valley Electric Service vehicle was recovered.  As they were checking the perimeter of the house, deputies found suspect Paul Bustamante attempting to exit the house through a window with stolen property on his person.  Bustamante matched the description of the suspect who stole the vehicle and was positively identified by the employee of Bear Valley Electric Service.  Bustamante was taken into custody without incident.  Bustamante, a resident of Fontana who was in the Big Bear Valley visiting relatives,  was booked on felony charges of vehicle theft and burglary.  Additionally, Bustamante had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for driving under the influence.  Bustamante is in custody at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $130,000 bail, with his arraignment hearing set for January 19^th at the San Bernardino Superior Court.

Brush Fire Temporarily Closes Portion of Highway 18 Near Crestline

Big Bear, Ca, January 13, 2012, 9:40am - A portion of Highway 18 in the Crestline area was temporarily closed this morning due to a vehicle going over the side of the road near Panorama Point.  The accident caused a brush fire to start at approximately 11:30pm last night.  Highway 18 is closed in both directions from 40^th Street to Highway 138, the Crestline Cutoff.  Fire crews are on scene working to contain and extinguish the small brush fire.  Caltrans will open all lanes except the #2 down bound lane for a two mile stretch around Panorama Point later today. Motorists are advised to use Highway 330 or Highway138 as alternate routes to avoid the closure this morning.

Sheriff Station Seeking Assistance In Finding Troll

Big Bear, Ca, January 5, 2011, 12:00pm - The Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, and new local business Trolls is asking for the publics assistance in finding a stolen sign.  Some time between the hours of midnight on December 23^rd and 10:10 a.m. on December 24^th , an unknown suspect stole a wooden carved troll that is part of  the Trolls store front sign located at 40766 Village Drive in Big Bear Lake.  The matter is being investigated by the Detective’s Bureau of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station.  The Sheriff’s Station is requesting assistance from the public to be on the lookout for the carving.  Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact Detective Ray Mariedth at the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, (909) 866-0100.

Vehicle Pursuit Ends In Green Valley Lake

Big Bear, Ca, January 3, 2012, 4:00pm - The New Year didn’t start so well for a group of six juveniles that were visiting the Big Bear Valley.  At approximately 8:05 am on January 1^st, Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Strange noticed a vehicle-traveling west bound on Big Bear Blvd near the China Gardens area with a passenger side door open, and a passenger hanging out of the door.  The deputy quickly turned around and attempted to pull over the vehicle.  When the driver failed to yield, a pursuit ensued, with the vehicle driving through the village, down Big Bear Blvd, towards the Dam where Sheriff’s Deputies were going to attempt to stop the vehicle with a PIT maneuver, a Pursuit Intervention Technique.  Due to traffic, the deputy did not perform the PIT maneuver, and allowed the vehicle to continue down the front grade, where the California Highway Patrol had been notified, and helped set up a road block at Green Valley Lake.  The roadblock forced the vehicle to turn into Green Valley Lake, which dead ends.  The vehicle voluntarily pulled over when they got into the Green Valley Lake area.  The driver was taken to juvenile detention, and the other 5 juveniles were released to an authorized adult.  According to the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, none of the juveniles were under the influence of drugs of alcohol, and that no other incidents occurred because of the pursuit.

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