Needles High School's snack bar was the scene of a recent burglary, leading to the arrest of a local man. The San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner's Department reported that on March 11, 2024, deputies responded to a call concerning a burglary at the school's premises located at 1600 Washington Street.
The break-in, which was discovered earlier this week, saw deputies actively engaging to quickly identify and locate the suspect. Brian Lillard, 49, a resident of Needles, was found to allegedly be behind the theft. Deputies managed to recover a portion of the stolen goods from Lillard's home on March 12, just a day after the incident, according to the official press release published on March 14th.
Lillard now faces charges for the burglary, under penal code PC 459, and is also implicated by an outstanding warrant covering charges for PC 422(A) - Criminal Threats and PC 12303.2(A)(1) - Violation of Probation. Currently, Lillard is being held with no bail in custody at the Colorado River Station jail, awaiting trial.
The case has prompted a call for public assistance, with anyone who might possess further information urged to reach out to Deputy E. Olmos or Deputy B. Whitmer. It is possible to anonymously report information through the We-Tip Hotline or via their website. Meanwhile, updates and further notices on the case will be shared through the Colorado River Station/ Needles Police Department's social media channels. The Department encourages the community's cooperation to aid in ensuring such incidents are to swiftly be resolved.
Law enforcement extends gratitude for any help the public can provide and underscores the importance of safeguarding educational institutions, which should remain places of safety and learning, not targets of criminal exploits.
