An argument in Hesperia on Thursday morning took a violent turn when a man allegedly used a sword to attack another, leading to his arrest on charges of attempted murder, officials said. The clash occurred in the 11200 block of Balsam Avenue around 9:31 a.m., according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department.
Deputies from the Hesperia Police Department rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the assault. They found the suspect, 41-year-old Andrew Raymond Sanchez, close to the location of the altercation and took him into custody. The encounter between Sanchez and the unnamed victim allegedly escalated when the suspect, wielding a sword, placed it against the victim's throat. After fleeing, later on, deputies managed to detain him a short distance away.
The skirmish resulted in the victim attempting to fight off the assailant, sustaining a severe hand injury in the process, the sheriff's department reported. Medics treated the injured party before transporting him to a trauma center for further care. Sanchez, a resident, now faces the charge of attempted murder and is being held on a $1 million bail at the High Desert Detention Center.
Authorities have yet to provide details regarding what sparked the argument or the relationship between the men involved. Meanwhile, anyone with additional information regarding the case is urged to contact the Hesperia Police Department at (760) 947-1500 or call anonymously to the We-Tip Hotline by dialing 1-800-78CRIME, as announced by the Sheriff-Coroner, Shannon D. Dicus.
