A 41-year-old Phelan man is behind bars on suspicion of attempted murder after deputies say he stabbed another man multiple times in the face and chest, then fled the scene before investigators located him in Phelan a week later. Reggie Wharry was booked into custody on August 26, seven days after the attack was first reported to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
According to Victor Valley News Group, Victor Valley Station deputies responded to an assault report at Yucca Terrace Drive and Valle Vista Road in Phelan at about 7:55 a.m. on August 19. They found an adult male victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to his face and chest area, while the suspect had already fled the scene before deputies arrived.
The victim was flown to a hospital for treatment of his injuries, the outlet reported, though authorities have not disclosed his identity or provided an update on his current medical condition. That gap in information is not unusual for the region: aerial transport is often the fastest option in the High Desert.
A Rural Crime Scene, A Week on the Run
The intersection where the stabbing occurred is in Phelan.
The investigation was handled by the Sheriff's Department's Victor Valley Station.
Investigators eventually located Wharry back in Phelan on August 26 and took him into custody, the report states. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder.
What Comes Next Legally
The report does not state whether Wharry's case was referred to the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office. It also does not address whether formal charges had been filed or whether an arraignment was scheduled. The report does not cite specific California Penal Code sections or discuss potential sentencing ranges for attempted murder or attempted premeditated murder.
The report does not explain the legal standard for attempted murder or analyze whether recklessness, a simple assault, or threats alone would satisfy it. The motive behind the attack and the relationship, if any, between Wharry and the victim remain open questions, and it was not disclosed whether a weapon has been recovered.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department issued a written statement confirming the arrest, though it has released few additional details as the investigation continues. The case adds to a heavy year for the department's major crimes detectives. According to Hoodline's earlier reporting on a separate fatal stabbing in Highland, the investigation was identified as homicide number H# 2026-077.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Victor Valley Station at 760-552-6800 or sheriff's dispatch at 760-956-5001. Anonymous tipsters may text the word "REPORT" to 844-909-3006 or submit tips through the Sheriff's Department's online reporting page.
