Armed incident at Norco sports bar leads to arrest

NORCO — Deputies arrested a man they allege was brandishing a firearm while threatening other people at a Norco sports bar early Monday morning, Jan. 28. Yesterday’s incident and arrest happened in the 1900 block of Four Wheel Dr.

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Deputies assigned to Norco Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Hard Hats Sports Bar about 12:25 a.m., after receiving reports of a man at the location brandishing a handgun and making criminal threats, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Bill Davis later explained.

When deputies arrived they quickly located and detained a man later identified as Anthony Joseph Basso Jr., 29, of Riverside. During their investigation, deputies found Basso was in possession of a loaded firearm and he was taken into custody without incident.

Basso was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside for assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats, according to Davis. It was not immediately known if Basso had any warrants, but jail records indicate he was booked on a number of additional charges; including, two counts of false imprisonment, attempted first degree murder, DUI, and reckless driving.

Basso remains in custody and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside Hall of Justice, Jan. 30.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Martinez of the Norco Sheriff’s Office at (951) 270-5673. Callers can refer to incident file number G190280005 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.