Full Notification

DATE/TIME: May 31, 2022

INCIDENT: Memorial Day, Marine Enforcement Operation 2022

LOCATION: Colorado River Station

SUSPECT(S): N/A

VICTIM(S): N/A


SUMMARY: The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit conducted its 2022 Memorial Day Marine Enforcement Operation starting on Friday, May 27th through Monday, May 30th, The operation was conducted along the Colorado River from the California/Nevada state line to the Riverside County line. 

Most of the operation was focused on the waterways with resorts, launch ramps, and marinas along the river and lakes.  A total of 11 patrol vessels, an OHV team, the Sheriff's Dive Team and two Sheriff's Department helicopters were deployed throughout the area.

The Marine Enforcement Unit investigated two non-injury boat collisions, as well as one fatal boat collision during the holiday weekend. The unit conducted a total of 406 enforcement stops throughout the holiday weekend. Approximately 96 citations were issued for various boating law violations and 310 verbal warnings were given.

There were a total of 10 arrests made for boating under the influence. There were also 2 subjects who were arrested for boat related incidents. The following are the names of the individuals arrested during the operation:

Drew Way, 58 years old, Torrance, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Kelly Williams, 57 years old, Huntington Beach, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
John Michael Evans, 39 years old, Huntington Beach, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Bryan Laroche, 45 years old,  Highland, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Bradley Muller, 42 years old, Lake Forest, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Alexis Villa Fonseca, 21 years old, Pahrump, NV(Boating Under the Influence) 
Oswaldo Reyes, 44 years old, Los Angeles, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Richard Allison II, 20 years old, Tempe, AZ (Boating Under the Influence)
Richard Allison, 45 years old, Mesa, AZ (PC 272, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor)
David Baron, 33 years old, Anaheim, CA (Boating Under the Influence)
Daniel Chiaramonte, 31 years old,  Apple Valley, CA (Boating Under the Influence)

The Marine Enforcement Unit is actively investigating a fatal boat collision which occurred on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at approximately 5:16 p.m. on the Colorado River near Buckskin State Park in Parker, AZ.

Arthur Garcia, 37 year old, from Indio, CA was arrested for felony boating under the influence, after deputies found him to be operating in a reckless and negligent manner while under the influence of alcohol after the boat he was operating, collided with a 7 year old female victim near the Arizona shoreline. The 7 year old female did not survive her injuries and was pronounced deceased at La Paz Regional Hospital.

Anyone anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Colorado River Station/Needles Police Department at (760)326-9200. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to use the We-Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME(27463), or you may leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com. 

The Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit urges all California residents to apply for their California Boater Card online at www.californiaboatercard.com, which is now required by law. The Colorado River Station Marine Enforcement Unit is, as always, dedicated to providing a safe boating atmosphere for the public.  We would like to remind everyone to wear their life jackets and to always boat sober.    

For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Twitter at: @CORiverStation or Facebook and Instagram @SBCSDColoradoRiverStation.

Refer: Dep. J Ramirez / Sgt. J Cross

Station: Colorado River Station

Phone No. 760-326-9200

Case No. N/A

SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department