Barstow Man Arrested After Standoff

Credits Barstow Police

On Sunday, June 1, 2025, at approximately 4:33 P.M., the Barstow Police Dispatch Center received a call for service at a residence in the 400 block of McBroom Avenue regarding a domestic disturbance. The victim told dispatch that 50-year-old Roberto Garcia was destroying things in the residence.

Patrol officers arrived on scene and knocked on the front door, but there was no answer. The victim inside the residence re-contacted dispatch and reported that Garcia was armed with a knife and a sledgehammer, and he would not let her leave the residence. Garcia was aware that police officers were outside of his residence, and he threatened to kill the victim and anyone who came into the residence. The victim, as well as their adult son, were eventually able to flee from the residence to the awaiting officers, neither sustained injury.

Officers surrounded the residence and began giving commands over the P.A. (public address) system for Garcia to surrender, but he refused to comply. Garcia told officers that he would have to shoot him and that he was not going back to jail.

The Barstow Police Department’s S.R.T. (Special Response Team) and C.N.T. (Crisis Negotiations Team) were requested and responded to assist. Officers continued to communicate with Garcia, and after approximately two and a half hours, Garcia exited the residence and surrendered without further incident. Officers recovered the knife and sledgehammer from the residence.

Garcia was arrested and booked at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, High Desert Detention Center for PC 236 – False Imprisonment, PC 245 (a) (1) – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, PC 136.1 (a) – Intimidating a Victim and PC 422 (a) – Criminal Threats.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation may contact Corporal Phillip Ragle at (760) 256-2211 or pragle@barstowca.org. Those wishing to remain anonymous may also provide information by calling the WE-TIP hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27469) or going to www.wetip.com.