BEAUMONT: Officials respond to report of body-armor clad, camo-wearing juveniles with rifle near schools

BEAUMONT — A 911 call reporting two white, male juveniles who were believed to be in possession of at least one rifle caused an immediate response from Beaumont police and other law enforcement officials, Thursday, Oct. 12.

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The response was called for “out of an abundance of caution,” a Beaumont PD official explained in a written press release. Other nearby law enforcement agencies were also notified regarding the circumstances.

According to the 911 caller, the two subjects were dressed in camouflage clothing and wearing body armor. They were spotted in a car, described as an older, white Toyota Camry, stopped along North Highland Springs Avenue north of Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont.

Several schools are within close proximity to the location, including Beaumont Adult School; Beaumont High School; San Gorgonio and Mountain View Middle Schools as well as Chavez, Andy and Toni Chavez and Sundance Elementary Schools.

All are within about three miles of the location where the two were reportedly seen; however, both School District and police officials stressed that none of the schools were directly advised to go into lockdown by police.

The investigation began when Banning Police Department received a 911 call reporting the incident. Although Beaumont police officials said “the details of the call were unclear,” Banning PD officials immediately notified Beaumont Police Department regarding the details and nature of the call.

Based on the circumstances, the age of those reportedly seen and the proximity to area schools, Beaumont PD immediately mobilized, sending extra patrol officers to “each of the (Beaumont Unified School District) school sites,” police officials explained.

Beaumont police officials also requested assistance from San Bernardino County Sheriff’s airship, which responded to the area to assist in a search from overhead.

While the airship checked each of the school sites, officers remained visible at and in the area of the school campuses “just as an extra security measure,” said police officials, who specified, “At no time was there a specific threat or concern in regards to any of the school sites.”

Despite the intensive search, authorities were not successful in locating or identifying the two subjects and are handling the incident as a “suspicious circumstancees,” pending additional investigation and/or information.

Beaumont Unified School District officials later confirmed the incident and investigation in a message to all parents on the District’s website explaining, “It was reported to us this morning by Beaumont Police Department that two white males dressed in camouflage, white t-shirts, military vests, and one possibly armed with a rifle were observed on Highland Springs Road.”

“We want to reassure you that there are no specific, credible threats to any of our schools. School operations are as normal.” District officials continued. However, “As a precaution, the Beaumont Police Department stationed an officer at each of our school sites…and will have extra patrols throughout the rest of the week.”

“The safety and security of our residents and school sites is always the first priority of Beaumont Police Department,” officials said. “We encourage anyone who sees or hears anything suspicious to report it to the police department immediately.”

Authorities have asked for the public’s help and have asked that anyone with relevant information about the incident and investigation or who knows the identity of the two subjects to contact Beaumont police officials at (951) 769-8500. Information can also be provided anonymously on the City’s website or via crimetips.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.