Chaos erupted on a quiet Rancho Cucamonga street when deputies were called to the 10100 block of Foothill Boulevard early Tuesday morning, where an erratic man was reportedly trying to open apartment and vehicle doors, and had set off a fire alarm. The subject, identified as 32-year-old local resident Mohd Hijaz, was discovered by authorities seated in a bush, screaming incoherently. As deputies awaited paramedics, the situation dramatically escalated.
Hijaz, seemingly disoriented, began advancing on the responding officers, ignoring multiple commands to stop. The confrontation turned violent when Hijaz struck one deputy in the face. He was eventually subdued by law enforcement and was being monitored when he experienced a medical emergency. The incident, as reported on Nixle, culminated with Hijaz's transport to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, with a focus on transparency in such critical incidents, has initiated an in-depth investigation into the encounter and the suspect's untimely death. Detective Malcolm Page and Sergeant Gerardo Moreno of the Sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division are leading the case, where an autopsy is pending to determine the exact cause and manner of Hijaz’s death. Officials are urging anyone with information to come forward.
As the community reels from this tragic event, the Sheriff's department continues to appeal for witnesses. "Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Malcolm Page," detailed the department's statement. The Sheriff’s Department has not released additional details about the altercation or the medical emergency Hijaz suffered. The entire episode casts yet another shadow on the complex interactions between law enforcement and citizens in distress. The investigation remains ongoing.
