Full Notification

DATE/TIME: December 21, 2016 / 10:14a.m.

INCIDENT: Child Cruelty

LOCATION: Brentwood Park

SUSPECT(S): Cassandra Violet Bustamante, age 26 of Victorville

VICTIM(S): Confidential

SUMMARY:

On December 21, 2016, at 10:14 a.m., Victorville Police Department personnel were dispatched to Brentwood Park, following the report of a toddler being surrounded by a pack of dogs.

A Sergeant was the first to arrive at the park and found a two-year-old boy, wearing only a soiled diaper, in the rain surrounded by approximately seven dogs. The dogs seemed to be very protective of the toddler when the Sergeant approached him to get him out of the rain and cold weather. Once the boy was safe, the Sergeant and other deputies were able to locate the boy’s home, which was around the corner from the park. When deputies arrived at the home, they found the front door standing open, and the dogs from the park were inside. The toddler’s mother, Cassandra Bustamante, and two young siblings were in the home, as well. The mother was sleeping and apparently did not know her son had left the house.

Children and Family Services (CFS) was contacted and requested to respond due to the circumstances of the call and the overall condition of the home. CFS later released all three of the children to the custody of their father. Bustamante was arrested and booked into the High Desert Detention Center for child cruelty.

Animal Control was also requested to handle the animals at the house. Unfortunately, during the incident one of the dogs became very aggressive and lunged at the Sergeant, trying to bite him, and the dog was shot. As of this morning, the dog is in stable condition.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911. 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 www.wetip.com.

Refer: Mara Rodriguez, Media Relations Officer

Station: Victorville Police Department

Case #: 171615717

Phone No. (760) 241-2911

JOHN MCMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department