Facing the darkness that persists in the digital age where the screen serves as the conduit for both connection and, tragically, predation, deputies in Fontana have waded through the murky waters of an online dating encounter turned sinister. In Bloomington, on the 9700 block of Locust Ave., a report drew officers into this shadow, becoming the frontline witnesses to the aftermath of a crime most vile—a rape purportedly facilitated by the veil of unconsciousness, a shroud woven by an intoxicating substance, as reported by the SBSD Fontana Sheriff's Department. The accused, Luis "David" Garcia, a 37-year-old Bloomington resident, sits behind the cold bars of the West Valley Detention Center, his image now released to the public, a beacon for potential silent sufferers to find their voice.
It was the early hours of October 29, when the Fontana Sheriff's Station received a 911 call around 3:00 a.m.—a call that would ripple through the community, sparking an investigation that led to Garcia's residence where the victim alleged the sexual assault took place, after having met Garcia online, their virtual trail culminating in a real-world nightmare, according to the Fontana Sheriff's Department.
The list of offenses is long and harrowing, including suspicions of rape by use of an intoxicating substance, rape of an unconscious victim, and sexual penetration with a foreign object, all levied against Garcia, as detailed by the Sheriff's Department.
The Fontana Sheriff's Station urges those with knowledge to extend a hand, to step forward and bridge the gap between silence and vindication, whether it be through direct contact with Detective D. Pedersen at 909-356-6710 or via the anonymity promised by We-Tip—beyond the reach of retribution and fear.
