Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, March 4, 2025 / 4:41 pm 

INCIDENT: PC 666.1(a)(1) – Petty Theft with Prior Convictions

LOCATIONS: Apple Valley Liquor, 17993 State Highway 18, Apple Valley
ARCO, 15333 Rancherias Road, Apple Valley
Circle K, 18465 State Highway 18, Apple Valley

SUSPECT(S): Phillip Donzelli Tolbert, 31-year-old male of Adelanto

SUMMARY: 

On November 5, 2024, California voters passed Proposition 36 titled “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act.” The proposition took effect on December 18, 2024, and reforms multiple laws from Proposition 47, which have been responsible for increasing homelessness, drug addiction and theft. Proposition 36 includes several new Penal and Health and Safety Codes that deputies will be able to apply during arrests when appropriate. These new charges can carry enhanced sentencing, as well as prevent offenders from being cite released prior to their court appearance. The following is an arrest where Proposition 36 is applied:

On March 4, 2025, Deputy D. Vallejo with the Apple Valley Police Department’s Retail Theft Division was dispatched to a report of a theft of lottery tickets at Apple Valley Liquor on State Highway 18. Deputy Vallejo learned from the store owner that a subject, identified as Phillip Donzelli Tolbert, had attempted to purchase lottery tickets from his store. Tolbert removed his card from the card reader and exited the store before the transaction was completed. 

While Deputy Vallejo was investigating this theft, the suspect was located at a gas station on Palmdale Road in Victorville by Deputy J. Phung. Tolbert was taken into custody at the gas station and subsequently turned over to Deputy Vallejo.

Deputy Vallejo learned Tolbert was suspected of additional thefts of lottery tickets from two additional locations in the Town of Apple Valley and a location in Victorville. Tolbert was booked into High Desert Detention Center on a felony charge of petty theft with prior convictions.

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, San Bernardino County District Attorney filed two misdemeanor charges of shoplifting against Tolbert. Tolbert currently remains in custody on the newly filed charges and an additional warrant for shoplifting in a previous case.

Anyone with any information about this investigation is asked to contact Deputy D. Vallejo with the Apple Valley Sheriff’s Station at (760) 240-7400 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463) or leave the information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com. 
 


Refer: Pamela Hoffman 
 
Station: Apple Valley  
 
Phone No: (760) 240-7428 
 
Case No. 182501140
 
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner