On the morning of Wednesday, September 29, 2021, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marijuana Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a residence on Desert View Road in Pinon Hills. This location had been identified as an illegal indoor marijuana grow house.
As the MET team was serving the warrant, an occupant of the residence pointed a rifle at law enforcement officers, and an exchange of gunfire occurred. Luis Rolando Garcia was struck and transported to the hospital. He was later arrested and charged with attempted murder.
It is unclear if anyone else was injured; according to an advisory issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Headquarters, a victim is listed as confidential and the suspect listed as Garcia, a 50-year-old resident of Pinon Hills.
By 11:00 am, several vehicles were on scene parked along Desert View Road at Highway 138, including Sheriff’s vehicles, unmarked vehicles, and county vehicles. Based on the number of vehicles and personnel at this location, it was clear that something out of the ordinary had occurred. Police tape was placed along the front of the residence and later across Desert View as the Sheriff’s department prepared for an investigation. A team of deputies armed with rifles dispersed from the front of the property heading back to their vehicles. Several officials were also present, probably detectives, who appeared to be on standby until the scene was cleared and they could begin their investigation. Code enforcement personnel were present, two Scientific Investigation Vehicles and the Marijuana Enforcement Team’s plant removal vehicle.
A CSI investigator was observed entering the property and heading, presumably into the residence, at around noon. At the same time, many of the officers and officials began leaving the area with a few remaining on scene. A perimeter was established with two Sheriff’s deputies stationed at the north side of the residence on Desert View Road. An eye-witness later reported that as of 5:00 pm, a command trailer was in place, and Desert View Road, as well as a few nearby cross streets, remained closed.
Garcia is currently in custody at the West Valley Detention Center and is being held in lieu of $1,000,000 bail.
