Full Notification

DATE/TIME: May 22, 2019
 
INCIDENT:    Assault Investigation
 
LOCATION: West Valley Detention Center
 
SUSPECTS:   Deputy Luke Van Ginkel, 22 years old
                        Deputy Arthur Enriquez, 33 years old
                        Inmate Alex Garcia, 40 years old      
 
 
SUMMARY: On December 31, 2018, at 11:02 pm, deputies received an inmate grievance involving alleged staff misconduct at the West Valley Detention Center (WVDC). During that same shift, a sergeant received the grievance and began the initial investigation. This initial investigation revealed alleged criminal misconduct involving deputies facilitating an assault on an inmate by another inmate.
 
On January 2, 2019, the Specialized Investigations Division began a criminal investigation, which involved interviewing more than 100 witnesses, reviewing extensive video and audio recordings, as well as collecting other evidence.
 
Sheriff’s Deputies Luke Van Ginkel and Arthur Enriquez were identified as the involved suspects. Van Ginkel was placed on administrative leave on January 3, 2019. He was hired on July 8, 2017 and started at WVDC on December 16, 2017. As of April 1, 2019, Van Ginkel no longer works for the Sheriff’s Department. Enriquez was also placed on administrative leave on January 5, 2019. He was hired on January 7, 2017 and started at WVDC on July 22, 2017.
 
On January 24, 2019, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department submitted reports to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review. On May 22, 2019, criminal charges were filed against both Van Ginkel and Enriquez. Van Ginkel is charged with Penal Codes 422(a) Criminal Threats and 245(a)(4) - Assault by Means of Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury. Enriquez is charged with Penal Code 32 - Accessory. The District Attorney's Office will set arraignment dates for Van Ginkel and Enriquez. Additionally, inmate Alex Garcia, who assisted Van Ginkel in perpetrating the assault, was charged with Penal Code 245(a)(4) - Assault by Means of Force Likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury.
 
“The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department takes allegations of misconduct seriously. The actions of these two individual deputies are disappointing and unacceptable. While this incident is troubling, our system to identify and investigate misconduct worked,” stated Sheriff John McMahon.  
 
 
Refer:             Public Affairs Division
 
Phone No.     (909) 387-3700              
 
 
JOHN McMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department