More than 50 arrests at auto show in San Bernardino

More than 50 people were arrested at an Inland Empire car show over the weekend for alleged connection to an attack on a San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputy in May.

The arrests were made Saturday afternoon when dozens of people gathered at an abandoned property in Adelanto, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Officials say Saturday’s arrests stem from an incident that occurred in Highland in May, when a mob was caught on video kicking, punching and attempting to drag an officer from his patrol car during a street takeover.

“As the deputy attempted to disperse the crowd, bystanders surrounded the marked sheriff’s patrol vehicle and began vandalizing the patrol vehicle,” the SBSD said in a statement. “Bystanders damaged the windshield and body panels of the patrol vehicle. Investigators identified the participants in the Highland street takeover and determined they were associated with car clubs in the High Desert area.”

Investigators say car clubs in the High Desert have engaged in similar behavior during street takeovers. Various club members posted videos of driving stunts, some in stolen cars, while openly displaying their weapons.

“As a result of the investigation, several search warrants were executed in the city of Victorville,” officials said. “The search warrants yielded stolen firearms and a stolen Dodge Hellcat.”

On Saturday, officers from the Victorville, Victor Valley, Apple Valley and Hesperia stations and units from the sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division conducted a “suppression operation” on the Adelanto property as part of the crime-fighting operation Operation Consequences and encountered members of the car clubs performing sideshow maneuvers, the statement said.

In total, officers arrested 56 people, including 19 minors. All 37 adults arrested were taken to the High Desert Detention Center, where they were issued citations and released.

Juveniles were also summoned before being handed over to their families, MPs said.

23 cars were towed and a stolen Chevrolet Camaro was confiscated.

“This type of recklessness will not be tolerated in San Bernardino County,” said Sheriff Shannon Dicus. “If these street occupations continue, there will be arrests and cars will be impounded.”