DATE/TIME: Sunday, December 31, 2023, 10:18 a.m. / Thursday, January 18, 2024, 3:30 p.m.
INCIDENT: Robbery
LOCATION: 14900 block of Valley Boulevard, unincorporated Fontana
VICTIM: Adult female
SUSPECT: Crystal Hedges, a 29-year-old female resident of San Bernardino
Joseph Hartsch, a 48-year-old male resident of San Bernardino
Charles Rushing, a 51-year-old male resident of San Bernardino
SUMMARY: On December 31, 2023, Fontana Station deputies responded to a robbery which just occurred at a business in the 14900 block of Valley Boulevard in unincorporated Fontana. The victim, an employee of the business, interrupted three suspects who were using bolt cutters to cut open a secured cage and steal property. One of the suspects threatened the employee and pushed her causing the employee to be fearful. The suspects drove away before deputies arrived.
Through investigation, deputies identified the stolen vehicle and one of the suspects as Crystal Hedges, a 29-year-old female resident of San Bernardino. A judge subsequently issued a warrant for Hedges arrest.
On Thursday, January 18, 2024, at about 3:30 p.m., officers from the Ontario Police Department located the vehicle involved in the initial robbery. Hedges was the driver of the vehicle and was arrested for her outstanding warrant as well as several other warrants. Deputies determined Joseph Hartsch, a 48-year-old male resident of San Bernardino, and Charles Rushing, a 51-year-old male resident of San Bernardino, were the other two suspects in the initial robbery. Hartsch and Rushing were passengers inside the vehicle when it was stopped by Ontario Police Department officers and evidence linking them to the robberies was located. Deputies arrested all three and booked them into the West Valley Detention Center for robbery. Ontario Police Department officers arrested a fourth occupant for unrelated warrants.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Fontana Sheriff’s Station at (909) 356-6767. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.
Refer: Deputies A. Foy / S. Herrera
Station: Fontana
Phone No. (909) 356-6767
Case No. 032303351
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
