Full Notification

DATE/TIME: June 21, 2018, at 8:50 p.m.
INCIDENT: Assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, criminal threats, commercial burglary, illegal discharge of a firearm, and PRCS hold.
LOCATION: 15400 Block of Civic Drive, Victorville
SUSPECT: Desmond Simon, 38-year-old, a resident of Barstow
VICTIMS: Confidential

SUMMARY:
On Thursday, June 21, 2018, at 8:50 p.m., dispatchers from the Desert Control Center received numerous calls for service in the area of Civic Drive south of Roy Rogers Drive regarding an armed suspect, later identified as Desmond Simon, discharging a firearm in the air.

Simon entered the Victorville Superior Courthouse armed with a screwdriver, pushed a janitorial staff member to the ground, forced open a gun locker, and stole a firearm. Simon contacted another janitorial staff member, pointed the firearm at him and threatened to kill the victim. Simon left the courthouse and contacted a victim at her car. While pointing the firearm at the victim, Simon ordered her to open a business at the MGR Service building. When she refused, Simon fired a round into the door. The victim ran away escaping Simon. Simon broke into an adjacent business and another victim saw him inside. Simon chased this victim, but she was able to get inside her vehicle. Before she was able to drive away, Simon struck the victim’s vehicle with the bottom of the firearm. Simon continued walking down the street away from the businesses. None of the victims were injured in these incidents.

When deputies arrived in the area, they located Simon with the firearm and saw him fire the gun into the air. Deputies gave verbal commands to Simon. Simon complied and was taken into custody without incident, and the firearm was recovered.

Deputies determined the firearm Simon had in his possession belonged to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department and was stolen from the Victorville Courthouse.

Simon was transported to the High Desert Detention Center and booked for assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, criminal threats, commercial burglary, illegal discharge of a firearm, and PRCS hold. Simon is a documented gang member and a convicted felon. Since 2001, Simon has been arrested approximately 38 times for numerous charges, some of these arrests were for violent crimes. Simon was discovered to be on supervised probation for a previous conviction as a result of California Assembly Bill 109.

As part of Governor Jerry Brown's Realignment Plan, or Assembly Bill 109, to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court decision requiring the state to lower its prison population by 30,000; offenders of non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious convictions will serve reduced sentences in county jails and be placed on local supervision through county Probation.

Any additional victims or witnesses of the crimes are urged to contact the case agent, Detective Scott Nobles, at (760) 241-2911.

Refer: Detective Scott Nobles
Station: Victorville City
Phone No.: (760) 241-2911
Case No.: 171806782 and 171806787

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