Chaos erupted at a local monastery's New Year's celebration in the 8600 block of Mulberry Avenue, Fontana, on the afternoon of April 26, as multiple brawls broke out among participants. San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriffs found themselves amid violence when attempts to detain a subject spiraled into a situation where one deputy was nearly punched, and the crowd grew hostile towards law enforcement officers.
The response to the altercations included personnel from the Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga Stations, Sheriff’s Aviation, alongside officers from the local police and the California Highway Patrol. In a statement by San Bernardino County Deputy Sheriffs, amidst the disarray, several families found themselves in distress, reporting missing children who were, thankfully, later located and reunited with their parents once order was restored.
Investigations by deputies have so far revealed that the unrest was fueled by several concurrent fights, apart from the initial encounter, causing the wide-scale disruption of the event. A singular adult male was subjected to getting kicked multiple times during the commotion, and other attendees were seen knocking over children's strollers. Fortunately, the male victim's injuries were minor, and after being checked by medical personnel, he was deemed to be in stable condition. There have been no reports of further injuries to law enforcement, children, or other attendees.
The Sheriff's Department is urging anyone with further information on the incident to come forward. Tips can be directed to the Fontana Sheriff’s Station or anonymously through the We-Tip Hotline and website. Deputy D. Rapisardi of the Fontana station is the referent for the ongoing case, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department, led by Shannon D. Dicus. The community is keen on aiding the ongoing investigation to identify those responsible for the upheaval and ensure such a disruption to harmony does not recur.
