News

Released: January 30, 2018 - Tuesday, 02:57 PM

Suspicious Deaths Update

Contact: Cmdr. Brian HascallPhone: (805) 781-4502Date and time of incident: 01-29-18 at 11:17 AMPlace of Occurrence: 12000 block of Arrow Bear Trail, California ValleyVictim Information: Edward Chavez Mendoza, age 70, resident of California Valley Edmundo Eduardo Mendoza Jr., age 37, resident of California ValleySuspect Information: N?AThe Sheriff's Office is releasing the identities of the subjects found deceased on 01/29/18 inside the residence in the 12000 block of Arrow Bear Trail in California Valley.
Edward Chavez Mendoza and his son, Edmundo Eduardo Mendoza Jr. were found deceased in their residence at 11:17 AM. Both individuals died of gunshot wounds. At this point in the investigation, there does not appear to be any outstanding suspects or threat to the community.
This was the ninth response by the Sheriff's Office to this residence since 2012. Of these responses, four calls involved a subject with mental illness causing a disturbance. Three of these calls resulted in a subject at the house being taken into protective custody for a mental health evaluation. At one time, this residence was one of the larger growers of cannabis in California Valley with approximately 500 plants. The owners had recently been scaling back their cultivation of cannabis due to the County Cannabis Ordinance that took effect on 1/1/18.
The search of the residence on 01/29/18 by Sheriff's Detectives during this investigation resulted in the seizure of 4 handguns, 2 shotguns and body armor. One of the handguns recovered was reported stolen from the San Bernardino area.
The autopsies of Mendoza and Mendoza Jr. are scheduled for 1/31/18. This investigation is continuing.