Helendale Man Arrested After Shooting at Passing Vehicle and a Short Standoff

Man Tossed From Vehicle & Struck by Big Rig After Driver Attempts to Pass on Shoulder

Traffic Collision on 1-15 Near Nipton Kills Passenger and Badly Injures Driver

HELENDALE– A 25-year-old Helendale man was arrested after a brief standoff in the 20000 block of National Trails Highway on Thursday morning.

At around 7:30 a.m. deputies from the Victor Valley Station responded to the report of a man with a gun standing outside of a home on National Trails Highway. Shortly after the initial reports, deputies received numerous reports of shots fired in the area. One man stated that he heard gunshots as he was driving to work but kept driving. When he arrived at his workplace he noticed a bullet had struck and damaged his vehicle.

Ground patrol, along with Sheriff’s Aviation responded to the area. Sheriff’s aviation flew over the area and noticed the suspect in the front yard loading a semi-automatic weapon. Aviation was able to advise deputies on the ground the location of the suspect. California Highway Patrol officers assisted in the efforts to make contact with the suspect who was later identified as Jeremiah Torres.

Torres stood in the front yard of the home as he held a loaded AK-47 over his head, pointing it in the air. At around 8:25 a.m. the California Highway Patrol K-9, Torres was taken into custody. The AK-47 and a loaded 9mm handgun were located in his possession. He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to contact at Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, (760) 552-6800. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can report information to WeTip by calling 1-800-78-CRIME, or by accessing the website at www.wetip.com.