Full Notification

On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Rialto Police Department officers responded to a supermarket in the 500 block of East Foothill Boulevard regarding a report of a subject armed with a firearm.

While officers were responding, the victim reported that the suspect had left the area in a white Dodge Charger. Officers determined the vehicle was registered to Christian Ibarra and responded to a nearby apartment complex, where they located the suspect vehicle unoccupied.

According to the victim, the suspect had walked in front of his vehicle in the supermarket parking lot, resulting in a verbal exchange between the two. After the victim parked, the suspect allegedly retrieved what appeared to be a handgun from the trunk of his vehicle, pointed it at the victim in the presence of the victim’s minor children, and threatened to kill him. The victim was able to photograph the suspect’s vehicle as it left the area.

The apartment complex where officers located the suspect vehicle participates in the Rialto Police Department’s FUSUS public safety technology program. Officers utilized the system to determine the direction the suspect vehicle had traveled within the complex. A police drone was subsequently deployed and maintained observation of the suspect’s third-story apartment while officers developed a safe apprehension plan.

During the operation, the drone provided officers with real-time information regarding activity inside the apartment and assisted officers in identifying an individual wearing clothing consistent with the suspect’s description.

A records check revealed Ibarra was on active federal probation for human trafficking. Officers approached the apartment and ordered the occupants to exit. Ibarra complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody without incident. The victim subsequently identified Ibarra during an in-field identification.

Officers recovered what initially appeared to be a handgun from the location. Further examination determined the weapon was an airsoft replica modeled after a Glock 19.

Ibarra was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of criminal threats. Investigators will also seek additional charges related to the alleged use of a replica firearm in a threatening manner.

Rialto Police Chief Mark Kling emphasized that the incident demonstrates how responsibly deployed technology can complement traditional police work and help officers resolve dangerous situations safely.

“Technology does not replace good police work, it enhances it,” said Chief Kling. “In this case, our officers combined information from the victim, investigative work, our FUSUS network, and drone technology to quickly locate a suspect accused of threatening a father with what appeared to be a firearm. These tools provided our officers with critical, real-time information that allowed them to make informed decisions and take the suspect into custody safely and without incident. This is exactly why we continue to invest in responsible public safety technology: to help our officers protect the community, apprehend those who victimize others, and bring them to justice.”

The Rialto Police Department remains committed to using technology responsibly and for legitimate public safety purposes. Technology such as integrated camera systems and unmanned aerial systems provides officers with additional information and situational awareness, while trained personnel remain responsible for investigative decisions, enforcement actions, and the protection of individual rights.

Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Rialto Police Department. Information may also be provided anonymously through WeTip at (800) 782-7463.

Media inquiries can be directed to Captain Lamont Quarker at (909) 841-0341.

Lamont Quarker, Captain  
Public Information Officer 
[email protected]


MARK P. KLING, Chief of Police
Rialto Police Department