Coalition Submits Signatures for “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” Initiative for San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors

San Bernardino, CA, March 13, 2012, 3:00pm – Last week, the Safety Employees Benefit Association of San Bernardino announced the submission of nearly 70,000 signatures collected by a diverse coalition of San Bernardino County unions, Tea Party Patriots, residents and business leaders to qualify the “Part-Time Pay for Part-Time Work” initiative also known as the San Bernardino County Elected Officials Pay Reduction Act.  43,500 signatures of San Bernardino County voters were required to qualify the measure for the November 2012 ballot.  The charter amendment initiative establishes a part-time board of supervisors reflecting the fact that they have met just half the time in the past two years, reduces their pay and perks accordingly from an average of $271,000 to $60,000 per year, and reduces their office budgets from $6 million to $1.5 million per year.  Supporters of this initiative believe that many of the historical functions of county government have been assumed by other entities, resulting in a diminished role for the board of supervisors as cities have incorporated and regional agencies have been created.  Additionally, supporters feel that our county supervisors have proven that they can do the job by meeting just half of the time as they’ve demonstrated these last two years. The Registrar of Voters has thirty working days to verify the signatures.  Upon verification the Board of Supervisors must set an election for November.

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Sheriff Captain Nicassio retiring after 28 years of service

Big Bear Lake, CA March 12, 2012 8:00 am – Our local Sheriffs department will have a change of command at the end of March.  Captain Tony Nicassio is retiring after serving in the San Bernardino Sheriffs department for 28 years.  Captain Nicassio began serving nearly one year ago and at the time he explained that he was very close to retirement.  On Monday night at the City Council meeting Captain Tony Nicassio will be honored for the work in keeping Big Bear a safe community by working with his officers in reducing crime and saving the taxpayers money with cost sharing traffic enforcement efforts.  He was also a key member that helped provide a resource officer for the Bear Valley Unified School District.   Being promoted to Captain is now Lieutenant Tom Bradford. Tom is very familiar with the Big Bear Area having previously spent many years here raising his family in the valley.  Mayor Bill Jahn stated that he has enjoyed working with Captain Nicassio and welcomes Lieutenant Bradford as our new Captain and his depth of local knowledge.

Multiple Vehicle Burglaries In Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, CA, March 9, 2012, 8:00am - On Thursday, March 8, 2012 the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station received reports of eight vehicle burglaries from unlocked cars between midnight and 7:00am at various locations in the City of Big Bear Lake. Investigation of the burglaries is ongoing with deputies and detectives following up on all leads. Tiffany Swantek, at the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station says you can minimize your chances of becoming a victim by taking a few simple steps.
~ Keep car doors, windows and sunroofs closed and locked.
~ Never leave valuables in your vehicle.
~ Park your vehicle in well-lit areas.
~ Do not leave your keys in your vehicle.
~ Do not leave cash or change in the cup holder.
~ Mark all of your electronic equipment (i.e. GPS units and MP3 players) with a personal identification number and keep a list of the serial numbers, makes and model numbers of all your electronic equipment. If your property is stolen, this will help you recover  This will help in the recovery of your property if have anything stolen. Anyone with information on the recent vehicle burglaries should contact the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station at 866-0100.  Information can also be reported anonymously by calling 1 (800) 78-CRIME.

Big Bear City Resident, Jakeb Hume, Arrested on Strong-Armed Robbery

Big Bear, CA, February 29, 2012, 1:00pm – Shortly after 3:00 a.m. yesterday morning, deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery at the Big Bear City Post Office.  An employee of a private snowplow company was plowing the parking lot of the post office when a subject identified as Jakeb Hume approached him, a resident of Big Bear City described as being a 24-year old white male.  Hume repeatedly asked the employee for a cigarette.  When the employee got out of his truck, Hume punched him on his head, face and back several times, knocking him to the ground, and took the employee’s wallet from his pocket.  Hume left the scene on foot.  Deputies conducted a check of the area and located Hume at Mt. Doble and Country Club.  Hume was taken into custody without incident.  Paramedics treated the victim at the scene.  Hume was booked at the Big Bear Jail on felony charges of robbery by force or fear.  Hume remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.  An arraignment hearing in this matter is set for March 1st at San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Assemblyperson Donnelly Gun Charges Filed

San Bernardino Ca, February 29, 2012 8:00 am – Last Friday the San Bernardino County district attorney filed charges on Assemblyperson Tim Donnelly relating to a January 4th incident at the Ontario International airport where he carried a loaded gun, without proper permits, into a secure area of the airport.  He was not arrested at the time but was cited for two misdemeanors gun violations.  Donnelly’s attorney appeared in court last Friday and pleaded not guilty for his client.  This incident has been characterized as an innocent mistake by Donnelly himself and has stated that the San Bernardino District Attorney as well as the Ontario Airport Police acted professionally.  Assembly person Donnelly is running for reelection, in the newly redrawn 33^rd State Assembly district his opponent is Mayor Bill Jahn of Big Bear Lake.  In a statement from the Jahn campaign Jahn supports gun ownership but emphasized that he certainly knows where his gun is and if it is loaded or not.  Donnelly will be back in court again on March 15^th.

15 Year Old Resident Arrested After Being Linked to Local Burglaries

Big Bear, Ca, February 22, 2012, 5:00pm – At approximately 12:30 p.m. today, Detectives of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station arrested a 15-year-old male juvenile, resulting in the clearance of at least five burglary cases in Sugarloaf.  Detectives received information that the juvenile was breaking into and staying at vacant houses.  Detectives spotted the juvenile in the Village and took him into custody after a short pursuit.  The juvenile was found to be in possession of stolen property. The juvenile was booked on felony charges of residential burglary.  He is currently being held at San Bernardino County Juvenile Hall pending court procedures.  Detectives continue to investigate open burglary cases that have recently occurred throughout the Big Bear Valley.  Anyone with information regarding local burglaries is encouraged to contact the Detectives Bureau of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station at (909) 866-0100.  Anonymous tips can be reported by calling WETIP at (800) 78-CRIME.

Deputies Seek Information On Homicide In Lucerne Valley

Lucerne Valley, Ca, February 17, 2012, 12:00pm - Deputies of the Victor Valley Station are seeking information regarding the death of a two-year-old boy that occurred in Lucerne Valley yesterday.  On Thursday, February 16, 2012, at approximately 10:06 p.m., Deputies from Victor Valley Station responded to the 9200 Block of Anza Trail in Lucerne Valley, to assist medical aid regarding a two-year-old child who had been assaulted and was possibly not breathing.  Upon arrival, Deputies found the fire department and medical aid already on scene performing CPR on the victim.  The victim was transported to Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center by ambulance.  Once at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center the victim was air lifted to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment. Early this morning, the victim was sadly pronounced deceased at Loma Linda University Medical Center.  As the victim was being transported from the scene, deputies located a male suspect later identified as, Ceasar Vasquez, hiding in the desert with what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound to his neck.  Vasquez was detained and transported to Desert Valley Hospital where he was treated for his injuries.  Through investigation, Vasquez was identified as the boyfriend of the child’s mother and investigators believe he is responsible for the injuries suffered by the victim.   Vasquez was arrested, transported and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for PC 187 Murder.  Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is urged to call Detective AJ Gibilterra or Sergeant Brad Toms at (909) 387-3598. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

Attempted Murder Suspect Christina Johnson Arrested In Big Bear

Big Bear, Ca, February 14, 2012, 12:00pm – Attempted murder suspect Christina Johnson was arrested after deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff Station located her vehicle in the 39000 block of Willow Landing in Big Bear Lake on Monday night.  Johnson was wanted for arrest after stabbing a man working for a repossession company on Friday, February 10th in the Lake Arrowhead area.  The victim was attempting to repossess a vehicle that Johnson had bought using fraudulent information.  Johnson stabbed the victim five times, rammed his vehicle repeatedly with her car, and attempted to hit the victim with her vehicle while fleeing the scene.  Deputies found Johnson’s vehicle parked at a house on Willow Landing, and arrested her at the location without incident.  Johnson is currently being held on $500,000 bail.

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Kent Kessler Recognized by City Council for Graffiti Removal Efforts

Big Bear, Ca, February 14, 2012, 12:00pm – At Monday nights City Council meeting, Kent Kessler, a member of Big Bear Valley Citizens on Patrol, received a proclamation from the City of Big Bear Lake for his graffiti removal cleanup efforts.  According to Tiffany Swantek, Public Information Officer for the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station, Mr. Kessler has been a local business owner for the past 21 years.  Over the past 17 years, Mr. Kessler has taken it upon himself to perform graffiti removal and cleanup efforts along the highways leading into and out of the Big Bear Valley.  This includes graffiti removal on road signage, boulders, electrical boxes, guard rails and wherever offensive and unsightly graffiti may exist.  Kessler has been a volunteer member of the Big Bear Valley Citizens on Patrol Unit since November, 2009.  When he joined COP’s, Mr. Kessler brought the graffiti removal program to the attention of the Sheriff’s Department.  Cleanup efforts are now done by Mr. Kessler and other COP members as part of their duties as public safety volunteers of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station.  The Big Bear Sheriff’s Station is grateful to Mr. Kessler for his continued dedication to law enforcement and his commitment to the community.

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Deputies Seeking Assistance In Search For Christina Johnson

Big Bear, Ca, February 13, 2012, 12:00pm – On Friday, February 10 at about 12:00 noon, deputies from the Twin Peaks Station responded to the area of Hook Creek  Road and Hwy 173, in the Cedar Glen area near Lake Arrowhead,  following the report of a stabbing.  Upon arriving on scene, deputies were told that the victim was attempting to repossess the suspect’s vehicle that had been reported stolen.   The suspect had bought the vehicle using fraudulent information and the victim was working as a repossession agent for the dealer.  The suspect refused to let the victim take the vehicle and, in the midst of the confrontation, the suspect retrieved a knife from the vehicle and stabbed the victim a total of five times in the back, wrist and arm.  While attempting to flee, the suspect rammed her vehicle into the victim’s vehicle several times and attempted to hit the victim as she fled.  The victim was flown by helicopter to Loma Linda University Medical Center, where he was treated for his injuries.  Deputies are still searching for the suspect: Christina Johnson, a 47 year old African American female, described as 5’3 and 190 lbs, with shoulder length black hair with blonde highlights.  Johnson is expected to be driving a 2008 Subaru Impreza Black 4 door with rear end damage, with a California license plate of 6JTR982.  If anyone has information on the suspect’s whereabouts or the suspect’s vehicle location please contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff Station at (909) 336-0600.   Callers wishing to remain anonymous may leave information on the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.

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