15-year-old Southern California teenager arrested for attempting to steal police officer’s patrol car

Members of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department are seen in this undated photo posted on social media. (SBSD)

A 15-year-old boy in San Bernardino County was taken into custody after authorities said he attempted to steal a sheriff’s patrol vehicle during a street takeover.

The incident occurred shortly after midnight on May 11, when a crowd estimated at about 100 people surrounded the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Highland Avenue with vehicles and opened a nearby fire hydrant to help the vehicles “drift off,” according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Authorities said a deputy from the SBSD’s Highland Sheriff’s Station, who was stopped in his patrol car at a red light at the intersection, was harassed by the large crowd, which began kicking and punching the vehicle.

The sheriff’s unit suffered significant damage, including a completely shattered windshield, before the deputy was able to drive away from the crowd and get to safety, authorities said.

During their investigation into the incident, detectives obtained a video that they believe identifies the 15-year-old Menifee resident as the primary suspect. According to the video, the teen opened the deputy’s driver’s door and attempted to “pass the deputy and his patrol unit.”

An arrest warrant and a search warrant were issued against the youth.

He was arrested at his home around 6:30 a.m. on May 23 and booked into the San Bernardino County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of vandalism and attempted auto theft.

Authorities did not say whether they are looking for other people involved in the street takeover or whether they expect further arrests in this case.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the SBSD Highland Sheriff’s Station at 909-425-9793. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 800-782-7463 or leave tips online at www.wetip.com.