Barstow Police Officials Release Additional Information About Walmart Officer-Involved Shooting

BARSTOW – Authorities from the Barstow Police Station have released additional information into the officer-involved shooting that killed Diante Yarber, of Barstow.

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On Friday, March 18, 2018, at around 10:37 a.m. police attempted to stop a blue Hyundai that was reportedly driving reckless in the 1400 block of East Main Street. The driver, later identified as Diante Yarber, failed to yield to the lights and sirens continuing on at a high rate of speed. Yarber drove to the 200 block of Yucca Avenue, parked the vehicle, and fled on foot. An area search was conducted, but the Yarner was not yet identified or located at that time. Through investigation, it was revealed that Yarber was the driver of the blue Hyundai, which was stolen on Wednesday, March 16, 2018. Barstow Police issued a declaration of arrest for Yarber for the Unlawful Taking of a Vehicle and Evading Police.

On Thursday, April 5, 2018, at around 10:53 a.m. police responded to the Walmart Parking lot, located at 301 Montara Road in Barstow for the report of a suspicious black mustang. It is unclear what made the vehicle suspicious to the reporting party, but a license plate number and vehicle description were reported. As police were en route, they learned that the vehicle was registered to a person with the last name of Yarber and Diante Yarber was seen driving the vehicle the previous day. When they arrived they located the vehicle in the parking lot and attempted to conduct a traffic stop by activating the red lights on the patrol units. Barstow police officers reported that the Mustang pulled into the parking stall, and the driver opened his door.

The driver was recognized by the officer as Diante Yarber. The officer ordered him out of the vehicle, but Yarber failed to comply with the officer orders, closed his door and accelerated his vehicle in reverse, striking the patrol vehicle. “Yarber continued to accelerate his vehicle forward and in reverse towards the officers, almost hitting one officer before colliding with the rear of another patrol vehicle occupied by an officer,” Barstow Police officials said. “The officers feared for their safety and the safety of others and an officer-involved shooting occurred.”

Four officers, who were all wearing department-issued body cameras, which were activated and recording at the time of the incident fired rounds from their duty sidearms as a result of Yarbers erratic, potentially dangerous behavior. “The body-worn cameras captured different angles of the incident and the Barstow Police Department has turned those videos over to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department as part of their criminal investigation,” Barstow Police officials added. Barstow Police will not be releasing the videos at this time because they are part of the ongoing investigation. The San Bernardino Special Investigations Unit assisted the Barstow Police Department with the investigation.

There is also a comprehensive internal review process underway and investigators from the department responded to conduct an administrative investigation. Police officials are unable, per state law to provide or share any information related to the personnel records of the officers involved.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department homicide detectives are still investigating the incident. Anyone with information may call Homicide Detective Bruce Southworth at 909-387-3589. Those wishing to remain anonymous may also call the WE-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.

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