On June 16 just after 3 a.m., a patrol officer was driving in the area of Colorado Street and Pacific Avenue when the officer observed an occupied vehicle illegally parked in a handicap stall in the front of an open business without a handicap placard displayed.   

The officer approached the vehicle, which was occupied by four males: the driver, 20-year-old Robert Whitehead of Spring Valley; the front passenger, 19-year-old Deangelo Miller of Henderson, Nevada; and the two back passengers, 20-year-old Mason Barrett of Central Point, Oregon; and 19-year-old Tarvarius Ward of La Mesa (who claimed ownership of the vehicle). 

Officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and discovered that Whitehead’s license was suspended.

During the subsequent investigation, Barrett was found to be in possession of brass knuckles. Officers also located a loaded handgun in the vehicle that had an illegal high-capacity magazine. A records check of the firearm revealed it had been stolen during a residential burglary in Oregon.

All four males were arrested and booked for felony firearms violations. The driver was also arrested for driving with a suspended license, and Barrett had an added charge of carrying metal knuckles. All four males were later released from custody with a notice to appear in court due to the State of California’s emergency “zero dollar” bail schedule.