Bullet narrowly misses resident in apartment shooting, police say

REDLANDS, Calif. — A resident narrowly avoided being struck by a bullet fired from a neighboring apartment, where police later found multiple unsecured firearms accessible to a child, during a series of incidents highlighted in the Redlands Police Department’s weekly report covering Jan. 15 through Jan. 20.

Police said the apartment shooting was among several significant cases during the period, which also included the investigation of a potential hate crime, a knife assault that led to a multijurisdictional high-speed pursuit, and multiple juvenile arrests involving stolen vehicles, weapons and an assault on an officer.

Gunfire narrowly misses resident; child endangerment alleged

A suspect was arrested Thursday evening, Jan. 15, on suspicion of criminal storage of firearms, negligent discharge of a firearm and child endangerment after a resident reported nearly being struck by a bullet while sitting in his kitchen in an apartment in the 100 block of New York Street.

Based on the bullet’s trajectory, officers determined it had been fired from a neighboring apartment. After receiving no response, police entered the apartment with assistance from a manager to check for possible gunshot victims but found none.

While officers were on scene, the apartment resident returned and admitted to discharging an AR-15 inside the apartment before leaving, police said. The rifle was recovered, and with the suspect’s consent, officers also seized four additional loaded and unsecured handguns. Two of the firearms were found under couch cushions in the living room where the suspect’s 11-year-old child had access.

The AR-15 was collected as evidence, and the remaining firearms were taken for safekeeping. Child Protective Services was notified.

Assault reported as potential hate crime

Police are investigating an assault and potential hate crime reported late Saturday, Jan. 17, in the 100 block of Orange Street.

The victim told officers he was walking north when he became involved in an argument with a man outside the Royal Falconer. During the confrontation, the suspect allegedly made derogatory remarks about the victim’s ethnicity and perceived sexual orientation, police said.

As the argument escalated, the victim ran into the business and was followed and assaulted by the suspect, who then fled. The victim was transported to a hospital and treated for injuries.

Knife assault leads to high-speed pursuit, arrest

Police arrested a suspect Saturday morning, Jan. 17, on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, child endangerment and reckless felony evading following a pursuit that began with an assault reported Thursday afternoon, Jan. 15.

Police said the suspect confronted two people near the parking structure at Citrus Avenue and Fifth Street because he believed they were recording him. He struck one of the victims, and a fight ensued before the suspect pulled out a knife and made threatening motions. He then fled the scene.

Using surveillance cameras and automated license plate readers, police identified the suspect’s vehicle. Officers attempted a traffic stop Saturday, but the suspect failed to yield, leading to a slow-speed pursuit through downtown Redlands that escalated to a high-speed pursuit on the freeway.

The pursuit involved a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter and traveled through Redlands, Highland and San Bernardino. California Highway Patrol officers joined the pursuit in Ontario, and the suspect surrendered in Colton. He was taken into custody, and the vehicle was impounded. Police recovered the knife used in the assault and clothing allegedly worn during the incident.

Juvenile arrested after stolen vehicle pursuit

A 14-year-old boy was arrested Saturday afternoon, Jan. 17, after police located a vehicle reported stolen in Beaumont.

When officers attempted a traffic stop near Home Depot at Citrus Plaza, the driver failed to yield and collided with two other vehicles before fleeing on foot up a brushy embankment near the 210 Freeway. Officers took the suspect into custody after a search.

During a search of the vehicle, police recovered a handgun loaded with a 31-round magazine that had been reported stolen in a separate Beaumont case.

Teen arrested in Citrus Plaza auto theft

Police arrested a 17-year-old suspect Friday evening, Jan. 16, for grand theft auto, possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest after a witness reported seeing him drive away in a 2023 Nissan at Citrus Plaza while the owner was inside a store.

Officers quickly located the vehicle, and the suspect fled on foot before being detained. Police said the teen was a reported runaway from Chino. The vehicle was returned to its owner.

Officer assaulted during trespassing call

Police arrested a 15-year-old boy Tuesday evening, Jan. 20, after he allegedly assaulted an officer outside the Target store at Citrus Plaza.

An officer initially contacted the teen for trespassing and selling candy in front of the store and advised him to leave. About 30 minutes later, the officer returned and found the teen still selling candy, police said.

When the officer attempted to detain the juvenile after he began walking away, the teen struck the officer with a closed fist and then lunged headfirst at him. Additional officers responded, and the teen continued to struggle before being taken into custody.

The Redlands Police Department said the weekly report highlights selected incidents and is not a comprehensive list of calls for service.

Anyone with information about crimes or suspicious activity is asked to contact Redlands police dispatch at 909-798-7681, ext. 1. Certain non-emergency crimes may also be reported through the department’s CopLogic system or the city of Redlands 311 mobile app.