Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at approximately 11:15 a.m.

INCIDENT: PC 664/187 - Attempted Murder

LOCATION: W Needles Hwy and R Street, Needles, CA

SUSPECT(S): Rita Delre, 42-years-old, Resident of Needles, CA

PERSON OF INTEREST: Robert Cleland, 40-years-old, Resident of Topock, AZ

VICTIM(S): Confidential

***UPDATE #2***
On Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at approximately 5:35 a.m., deputies arrested Rita Delre on an outstanding warrant for H&S 11378 - Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale. Delre was later positively identified as the suspect in the previous attempt murder case that took place on July 18, 2023. Delre was supplementally booked for PC 664/187 - Attempted Murder. Delre remains in the custody of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department with a bail amount of $1,030,000.00, awaiting a court hearing. 

Robert Cleland was also identified as a person of interest in the attempted murder case. Cleland has not been located and is still wanted for questioning.  

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Cleland or this incident is asked to contact Deputy L. Stout or Detective J. Gregory at the Colorado River / Needles Police Department at (760) 326-9200. Those wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information online at www.wetip.com.


***UPDATE***
On July 24, 2023, deputies assigned to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Dive Team conducted operations to locate evidence related to this case. Deputies located evidence shortly after beginning operations. 

The waterway between Fenders and the K Street bridge was closed for the operation and is now open in both directions.   
 
The suspect remains at large and anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Deputy L. Stout at the Colorado River / Needles Police Department at (760) 326-9200. Those wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information online at www.wetip.com.
 

SUMMARY: On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at approximately 11:15 a.m., deputies from the Colorado River Station / Needles Police Department responded to a call for service regarding a man sitting on the curb bleeding profusely. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered the victim had been attacked and was suffering from deep lacerations to his face, hands, and arms. The victim was treated by medical on scene and was later flown to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
 
The suspect fled the scene, and the case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Deputy L. Stout at the Colorado River / Needles Police Department at (760) 326-9200. Those wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information online at www.wetip.com.

For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Facebook and Instagram at SBCSDColoradoRiverStation or Twitter at: @CORiverStation. 

Refer: Deputy L. Stout

Station: Colorado River Station

Phone No. 760-326-9200

Case No. 212300572

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department