3 Burglary Suspects Arrested, One Booked on Attempted Murder of Deputy

3 Burglary Suspects Arrested, One Booked on Attempted Murder of Deputy
Men are taken into custody after police responded to a crime activity in a file image. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
City News Service
1/16/2024
Updated:
1/16/2024

LOS ANGELES—Three Los Angeles residents who allegedly burglarized a Chino Hills pharmacy over the weekend were arrested, and one of them was booked on suspicion of attempted murder for allegedly dragging a sheriff’s deputy with a vehicle in an attempt to get away, authorities said Jan. 15.

The crime occurred about 5 a.m. Sunday in the 2100 block of Grand Avenue according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Mystic Winston, 24, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder, Jerdale Ruth, 21, was booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, and Romel Strahan, 18, was booked on suspicion of burglary.

Deputies went to the pharmacy after being alerted by a security company that a crime was in progress. Ruth and Strahan were taken into custody in the area, but Mr. Winston allegedly tried to flee in a vehicle, which was determined to have been stolen out of Georgia, authorities said.

“A deputy struggled with Winston to prevent him from fleeing in the vehicle,” a sheriff’s department statement said. “While the deputy was at the driver’s door, with the door open, Winston started the vehicle and placed the vehicle in different gears.”

That resulted in a collision with a parked patrol vehicle, officials said, and then the deputy was dragged by the suspect’s vehicle for about 30 feet.

“The deputy lost his grip and fell to the pavement with Winston almost running [him] over,” the statement read.

Deputies then pursued Mr. Winston until he lost control of the vehicle on the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, near Rowland Heights, officials said.

Mr. Winston was arrested at that location, and deputies allegedly found a safe and pharmaceuticals in the vehicle they suspect were stolen from an unrelated burglary, the sheriff’s department reported.

Anyone with information on the case was urge to call Chino Hills Police Department at 909-364-2000 or the We-Tip Hotline at 800-78CRIME.