Three men robbed at gun point at Dana Park

BARSTOW • Police officers arrested two Barstow residents on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon after they allegedly robbed three men at gunpoint while walking through Dana Park Thursday evening.

According to a report from the Barstow Police Department, officers responded to a report of a robbery around 10:50 p.m. on the 600 block of Kelly Drive. Police discovered that three men were robbed by the two suspects, Salvador Lara, 19, and Johnathan Lester, 18.

Lara and Lester had approached the three men and demanded their property — which was $8, two cell phones, an iPod touch, and a wallet, according to the report.

Police further investigated the case and found that the victim’s cell phone was installed with a GPS locator. The GPS was able to show the location of the cell phone — which was an apartment building on Grace Street.

When officers arrived at the apartment building, they found Lara inside — who was taken into custody without any incident — but Lester retreated to a bedroom where he barricaded himself inside. Officers made several demands for Lester to surrender and then discovered the suspect was armed. Lester ignored all requests to surrender.

Because there was a gun used in the robbery and the suspect refused to surrender, Barstow Police Department’s Special Response Team and Hostage Negotiation Team were deployed. Residents in the apartment complex were evacuated as officers tried to get Lester to surrender.

Hostage negotiators had tried to give Lester a phone in an attempt to talk to him, but he ignored these attempts as well. Tear gas was then used in the apartment. Lester then surrendered and was captured without further incident.

The gun and victims’ property were found to be inside the apartment and recovered.
Lara and Lester were booked at the San Bernardino County Jail on charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.