The San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Marine Enforcement Unit conducted its Labor Day Holiday Enforcement Operation starting on Friday, September 4th through Monday, September 7th. The operation was conducted along the Colorado River from the California/Nevada state line to the Riverside County line as well as Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead.
Most of the operation was focused on the waterways with resorts, launch ramps and marinas along the river and lakes. A total of 11 patrol vessels, an OHV team, and two Sheriff's Department helicopters were deployed throughout the area. The Marine Enforcement Unit conducted a total of 107 enforcement stops throughout the holiday weekend. There was a total of 8 arrests made for boating under the influence. The following are the names of the individuals arrested during the operation:
John Slingerland, 33 years of age, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Rogers Purfoy, 38 years of age, Los Angeles, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Brandon Wade, 28 years of age, Long Beach, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Mckenna Vargas, 28 years of age, Alexandria, Va. (Boating under the influence)
Ivan Macias, 31 years of age, Fontana, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Andrew Gutierrez, 28 years of age, Norwalk, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Jose Rodriguez, 44 years of age, Oak Hills, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Richard Berling, 47 years of age, Menifee, Ca. (Boating under the influence)
Approximately 60 citations were issued for various boating law violations as well as hundreds of verbal warnings. The Marine Enforcement Unit investigated two minor injury boat accidents, and no major injury boat accidents.
The Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit urges all California residents to go online to www.californiaboatercard.com and take the online test to obtain their boater card, which is now required by law, regardless of age. The Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit is, as always, dedicated to providing a safe boating atmosphere for the public and reminds everyone to wear their life jackets and to boat sober.
For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on X at: @CORiverStation, Facebook and/or Instagram @SBCSDColoradoRiverStation.
Refer: Sergeant Travis Vessells
Station: Colorado River Station
Phone No. (760) 326-9200
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
