Law Enforcement Task Force Presents Family in Need with a Vehicle

On December 24, 2013, the San Bernardino County Auto Theft Task Force (SANCATT), a task force comprised of law enforcement officers from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino Police Department, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office, and the California State Department of Insurance, teamed up to present a vehicle to a person in need.

Investigators contacted Bernice Henley, an SSS at the Highland station who is very involved with charitable giving and asked for her assistance in locating a family in need.  Henley immediately knew of a family – Rose Nunez is a mother of three children, 17 year old Celeste, 13 year old Jade, and 3 year old Joel.  Jade is battling Leukemia and had a bone marrow transplant last week. Rose only had one car, which was shared between her and her daughter Celeste for trips to the hospital and for Celeste to get to college. Just before Thanksgiving, an uninsured motorist collided with Celeste while she was driving and their only car was totaled, leaving them no way to get to the hospital to see Jade, or for Celeste to get to school.  In order to do these things, they have had to find rides or borrow a car.

Upon hearing of their plight, investigators from SANCATT reached out to tow companies they work with and one of the companies, Air Expressway Towing, in Victorville had a vehicle coming up for lien that they were willing to donate to the family. Pepe’s Towing donated a complete detailing of the vehicle, along with a brake job and mechanical inspection.