Man with a Knife Charges Sheriff's Deputy after Crashing into Patrol Car and a Lethal Force Encounter Occurs
DATE/TIME: January 6, 2024, 3:40 p.m.
INCIDENT: Lethal Force Encounter / Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer
LOCATION: Covington Community Park, 11165 Vale Drive, Morongo
SUSPECT(S): 57-year-old Male
VICTIM(S): San Bernardino County Sheriff Deputies
SUMMARY: On Saturday, January 6, 2024, at approximately 3:40 p.m., deputies with the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station responded to Covington Community Park in response to a possible suicidal subject. A reporting party informed Sheriff’s Dispatch the male subject was suicidal and was armed with a knife. The male subject called Sheriff’s Dispatch as well and stated he wanted to commit “suicide by cop,” advising he had a knife and a gun.
Deputies, along with Sheriff’s Aviation, arrived at the park and gave public address (PA) announcements for over 25 minutes, informing the subject they desired to help him. The subject drove his vehicle in and around the park, leading deputies on a pursuit. California Highway Patrol officers deployed spike strips, disabling a rear tire on the vehicle. The subject drove back into the park and crashed into a sheriff’s patrol vehicle. The subject exited the vehicle, armed with a knife, and charged a deputy. A lethal force encounter occurred. The subject was hit by deputy gunfire. Despite life-saving measures by deputies, the subject was pronounced deceased at the scene. No other injuries occurred during the incident.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division responded and are conducting the investigation. The name of the deceased subject is being withheld pending next of kin notification. No further information is currently available.
The subject had a dog in the vehicle with him during the incident. At some point the dog left the vehicle and fled. Information about the dog was given to San Bernardino County Animal Control.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Malcolm Page, Specialized Investigations Division at (909) 890-4904. Callers can remain anonymous and contact We-Tip at 800-78CRIME or www.wetip.com.
Refer: Detective Malcolm Page or Sergeant Gerardo Moreno
Station: Specialized Investigations Division
Phone No. (909) 890-4904
Case No. DR# 092400031 / H#2024-002
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Headquarters
655 E 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700