Victorville Deputy Involved in Collision During High Speed Chase of Burglary Suspects

Job and Education Fair with Expungement Services Coming to Hesperia

Man Located Deceased Near Hesperia Railroad

VICTORVILLE – Two deputies were involved in a single-vehicle rollover collision during high-speed chase led to driving speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour early Tuesday morning.

At around 3:55 a.m. San Bernardino County deputies were made aware the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crime’s Bureau, Burglary/Robbery Task Force was in the Victor Valley area working on a case. Assistance was requested from the Victorville and Hesperia station deputies to make contact with the suspects. The Los Angeles Detectives along with deputies from the Victorville and Hesperia Stations began to search for a gray 2005 Range Rover.

At around 5:07 a.m. a notification of an audible alarm in the 12600 block of Hesperia Road was received. Deputies in an unmarked patrol vehicle began following a vehicle, a gray Land Rover that was believed to be involved in the burglary of the Queens Pharmacy located at 12677 Hesperia Road. Per scanner traffic the suspect(s) entered by breaking the front glass door. At this time, it is unknown what, if anything was stolen during the burglary.

The unmarked patrol unit followed the vehicle as it traveled southbound on Hesperia Road waiting for marked units to arrive. The vehicle traveled eastbound on Silica, then went onto Industrial, went west on Bear Valley, and back onto northbound Hesperia Road. A marked patrol vehicle arrived and activated lights and sirens. The suspect vehicle appeared to yield near the Del Taco on Hesperia Road just north of Bear Valley Road. The vehicle again began moving before coming to a complete stop and began driving at speeds between 75-105 miles per hour. The vehicle went into oncoming lanes and ignored traffic signals as it approached Green Tree Boulevard.

When the vehicle approached the area of Hesperia Road and Forrest Avenue at around 5:13 a.m. for reasons that remain under investigation, the patrol SUV lost control and overturned into a ditch. “Both deputies were transported to a local hospital to be checked out, injuries, if any, appear to be minor,” said Victorville Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez. The pursuit was terminated, but deputies continued to assist Los Angeles Detectives in the search for the suspects. As deputies set up a perimeter while checking on the condition of the deputies in the overturned vehicle, a report of a Black man getting out of a vehicle in the 15600 block of Inyo in the City of Victorville was called into 911. The reporting party said that the subject ran toward Forrest Avenue.

According to authorities, there was a total of three suspects; all of the suspects described as black men; one with dreadlocks and dark jeans, the second with a dark hoodie and jeans and the third wearing a black jacket and dark-colored sweatpants. Shortly after deputies began to search, a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy reported having one of the suspects, later identified asDeandre Smith, 26, in custody in the 16200 block of Tejon Street in the City of Victorville. At around 5:54 a.m. the second suspect, identified as Eddie Smith, 20, was taken into custody in an alley near the 16400 block of Yucca. Both suspects were determined to be residents of Long Beach. A K-9 and Sheriff’s helicopter were requested to locate the outstanding suspect. The third suspect, described as a heavyset black man remains at large.