Latest news with #VictorvillePoliceDepartment
USA Today
19 hours ago
- USA Today
A teddy bear appeared to be wrapped in human flesh. Turns out it was a prank.
'They're Selling a 'Human Skin' Teddy Bear on Etsy… And You're Still Calling Us Crazy?' In what police called 'a very bizarre incident,' officers arrested a man after what appeared to be a teddy bear wrapped in human flesh was left outside a Southern California convenience store. Hector Corona Villanueva, 23, of Victorville was arrested in connection to the macabre prank on charges of reporting an emergency knowing it to be false and intentionally and wrongfully planting evidence to falsely present as real, the San Bernadino Sheriff's Department reported. Just after noon local time on Sunday, July 13, the sheriff's department said, Victorville Police Department officers responded to a suspicious circumstances call at the AMPM gas station on Bear Valley Road. "Callers indicated a teddy bear made of what looked like human flesh was left in front of the business," the sheriff's office wrote in a news release. An investigator with the San Bernardino County Coroner office responded and collected the teddy bear, officials said. Gas leak disaster: House explodes during New Jersey flooding, nearby homes damaged Teddy bear found with 'human flesh' examined by coroner After further examination, officials said, the sheriff-coroner department's office determined the teddy bear "is not made of any type of human remains or skin." A motive in the case was not immediately known. As of July 15, Villanueva was not listed as an inmate in the local jail. It was not immediatly known whether he had obtained legal counsel in the case. "Incidents such as this take up valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, possibly delaying response time to legitimate calls for service," the department wrote. "We would like to thank those that reported information that was helpful during the investigation of this case." Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Victorville police at 760-241-2911 or sheriff's office dispatch at 760-956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME or visit website at Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
Man arrested after leaving ‘human skin' teddy bear outside a Victorville gas station for a prank
A teddy bear that appears to be made out of human skin and found outside a Victorville gas station over the weekend turned out to be a practical joke, according to authorities. On July 14, 2025, deputies identified the person who left the teddy bear at the AMPM as Hector Corona Villanueva. Corona Villanueva was arrested and will be booked for PC148.3(a) - Causing the Report of an Emergency while Knowing it to be False and PC141 - Intentionally and Wrongfully Planting Evidence to Falsely Present as Real. Incidents such as this take up valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, possibly delaying response time to legitimate calls for service. We would like to thank those that reported information that was helpful during the investigation of this case. On Sunday, July 13, 2025, at approximately 12:07 p.m., deputies from the Victorville Police Department responded to a suspicious circumstances call at the AMPM gas station on Bear Valley Road. Callers indicated a teddy bear made of what looked like human flesh was left in front of the business. Upon arriving, deputies located the teddy bear and began their investigation. An investigator with the San Bernardino County Coroner office responded and collected the teddy bear. It has been determined that the teddy bear is not made of any type of human remains or skin. The investigation into who left the teddy bear at the business is continuing. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911 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 you may leave information on the We-Tip website at The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department responded Sunday to a report of human remains near Bear Valley Road around noon, NBC4 Los Angeles reported. 'A coroner investigator has taken possession of the object, and the investigation is continuing,' Sheriff's Department Public Information Officer Mara Rodriguez said. Authorities are still investigating who was behind the prank. Video from KTLA shows the bear was left outside the entrance of AM/PM and the store's parking lot was cordoned off by sheriff's deputies. South Carolina artist Robert Kelly of Dark Seed Creations confirmed in a Facebook post that she was the creator of the bear and shipped one of them to an Etsy customer in Victorville last week. The bears in the Facebook video Kelly posted were stitched together like a Frankenstein monster with 'human skin' and tinged with what appeared to be blood. 'No, I did not have any knowledge of the buyers intentions nor was I involved in a prank on the other side of the nation from me,' he wrote. The bear is listed for sale at $165 on the seller's Etsy shop but is now sold out.
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Human skin' teddy bear was left at a SoCal gas station as a prank. Suspected prankster arrested
A macabre teddy bear that appeared to be made out of human skin and was found outside a Victorville gas station over the weekend turned out to be a practical joke — and the suspected practical joker has been arrested — according to authorities. On Monday, Hector Corona Villanueva was arrested on suspicion of filing a report to authorities of an emergency, knowing it was false and intentionally planting evidence to falsely present it as real, according to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department news release. 'Incidents such as this take up valuable emergency resources and put the public at risk, possibly delaying response time to legitimate calls for service,' according to the release. 'We would like to thank those that reported information that was helpful during the investigation of this case.' On Sunday at 12:07 p.m., deputies from the Victorville Police Department responded to a call at the AMPM gas station on Bear Valley Road, officials said. Deputies found a teddy bear that was made of what looked like human skin. The San Bernardino County coroner collected the bear and determined it wasn't made of human remains. South Carolina artist Robert Kelly of Dark Seed Creations confirmed in a Facebook post that she was the creator of the bear and had shipped one of them to an Etsy customer in Victorville last week. The bears in the Facebook video Kelly posted were stitched together like a Frankenstein monster with 'human skin' and tinged with what appeared to be blood. 'No, I did not have any knowledge of the buyers intentions nor was I involved in a prank on the other side of the nation from me,' she wrote. The bear sells for $165 on the seller's Etsy shop and is now sold out.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Victorville woman struck and killed by alleged DUI driver identified
Authorities have released the identity of a Victorville woman was struck and killed by an allegedly intoxicated driver earlier this week. Shareece Jones, 49, died at a hospital shortly after Tuesday's collision, which took place about 9 p.m. at Reno Loop Road and Sorrel Way, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's officials. She was on foot when she was hit by a Chevrolet Suburban being driven by a 50-year-old Barstow man, sheriff's officials said. The circumstances of the collision were not available. Paramedics took Jones to Victor Valley Global Medical Center in Victorville, where she succumbed to her injuries. Deputies determined the SUV driver, identified as George Batiste Thenarse, was intoxicated and arrested him on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Potential criminal charges were pending. More: Barstow man accused of DUI after fatally striking woman with SUV in Victorville Any witnesses, or anyone with information, was asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911, or Sheriff's Dispatch at (760) may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victorville woman struck and killed by alleged DUI driver identified
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
SoCal man arrested for allegedly stealing car from Facebook Marketplace seller
A San Bernardino County man was arrested for allegedly stealing a car from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. The victim posted her 2015 Toyota Scion for sale and was contacted by the suspect, Joseph Gomez, 26, of Victorville. Gomez inquired about the vehicle and planned to meet the woman on May 13 at a residence on the 16000 block of Lariat Road to inspect the car, authorities said. During the inspection, Gomez stepped into the vehicle and drove away with the car. The victim contacted law enforcement, who began investigating. At 1:42 p.m., deputies spotted the stolen car near Roy Rogers Drive and the 15 Freeway. 'Deputies conducted a high-risk traffic stop and contacted the driver,' the sheriff's department said. Gomez was arrested for vehicle theft and the possession of a stolen vehicle. He was booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto. 'The Victorville Police Department would like to remind the public to be safe when conducting in-person purchases or sales through online marketplaces, authorities said. 'Meet in a public place and during daylight hours. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash with you and make someone aware of your meeting plans.' No further details were released. Anyone with information about the case can call the Victorville Police Station at 760-241-2911 or Sheriff's Dispatch at 760-956-5001. Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
