Latest news with #We-Tip
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.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man accused of kidnapping, beating, trying to strangle girlfriend at Barstow motel
A woman escaped from a Barstow motel room where police say her boyfriend beat her, held her against her will and tried to strangle her with a plastic zip tie. The incident was first reported as a "domestic disturbance" about 12:15 a.m. Monday at a motel in the 1200 block of West Main Street, according to the Barstow Police Department. The victim has been involved in an argument with her boyfriend, identified as Timothy Loring, 34, of Barstow, officials said. Loring began punching and kicking the woman, police said in a written statement. "During the assault, the victim stated she was able to run away from Loring, but he soon caught up with her and threatened to kill her if she did not return to the room," according to the statement. Once back in the room, police said the suspect continued assaulting the victim while "brandishing a knife, insisting he would kill her." "At one point, Loring wrapped a zip tie around the victim's neck, and he tried to cinch it down to choke her," the statement said. "The victim placed her hand between the zip-tie and her neck, preventing the zip-tie from completely cinching down. The victim fled from Loring and contacted police." Evidence corroborating the woman's account was found at the scene. Loring tried to run from officers but was captured following a brief foot chase, authorities added. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping, domestic violence and making criminal threats, San Bernardino County booking records show. Bail was set at $1 million pending legal proceedings. More: Shooting victim identified as 27-year-old Hesperia man Anyone with information was asked to contact Barstow police Officer Juan Gonzalez at (760) 256-2211, or by email at jgonzalez@ Tips may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline a (800) 782-7463. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man accused of kidnapping, trying to strangle girlfriend at Barstow motel
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Barstow man accused of DUI after fatally striking woman with SUV in Victorville
A Barstow man is accused of DUI and manslaughter after striking and killing a woman with an SUV in Victorville on Tuesday night, authorities said. The collision took place about 9 p.m. at Reno Loop Road and Sorrel Way, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. "Upon arrival, it was determined a gold Chevrolet Suburban struck a pedestrian," sheriff's officials said in a written statement. The badly injured woman was taken to a hospital for treatment, but could not be saved. Her identity was not released pending notification of family. Deputies determined the driver of the SUV, identified as 50-year-old George Batiste Thenarse of Barstow, was intoxicated and arrested him on suspicion of DUI and vehicular manslaughter. Thenarse was released from custody as the investigation continues, but the case will be submitted to the San Bernardino District Attorney's Office for potential criminal charges, sheriff's department spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez said. Deputies from the Victorville Major Accident Investigation Team were spearheading the investigation. More: Man accused of kidnapping, beating, trying to strangle girlfriend at Barstow motel 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: Woman fatally struck by SUV in Victorville, driver accused of DUI
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
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man accused of kidnapping, beating, trying to strangle girlfriend at Barstow motel
A woman escaped from a Barstow motel room where police say her boyfriend beat her, held her against her will and tried to strangle her with a plastic zip tie. The incident was first reported as a "domestic disturbance" about 12:15 a.m. Monday at a motel in the 1200 block of West Main Street, according to the Barstow Police Department. The victim has been involved in an argument with her boyfriend, identified as Timothy Loring, 34, of Barstow, officials said. Loring began punching and kicking the woman, police said in a written statement. "During the assault, the victim stated she was able to run away from Loring, but he soon caught up with her and threatened to kill her if she did not return to the room," according to the statement. Once back in the room, police said the suspect continued assaulting the victim while "brandishing a knife, insisting he would kill her." "At one point, Loring wrapped a zip tie around the victim's neck, and he tried to cinch it down to choke her," the statement said. "The victim placed her hand between the zip-tie and her neck, preventing the zip-tie from completely cinching down. The victim fled from Loring and contacted police." Evidence corroborating the woman's account was found at the scene. Loring tried to run from officers but was captured following a brief foot chase, authorities added. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, kidnapping, domestic violence and making criminal threats, San Bernardino County booking records show. Bail was set at $1 million pending legal proceedings. More: Shooting victim identified as 27-year-old Hesperia man Anyone with information was asked to contact Barstow police Officer Juan Gonzalez at (760) 256-2211, or by email at jgonzalez@ Tips may also be submitted anonymously to the We-Tip hotline a (800) 782-7463. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Man accused of kidnapping, trying to strangle girlfriend at Barstow motel
