Operation Consequences Targets Gang Activity and Illegal Firearms in Apple Valley

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (VVNG.com) – A crime suppression operation aimed at gang activity and illegal firearms in Apple Valley and Twentynine Palms has led to multiple arrests, firearm seizures, and drug confiscations.

The operation, titled “Operation Consequences,” took place from February 10 to February 16, 2025, and was conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department (SBCSD) with support from various law enforcement agencies.

Between February 10 and February 16, 2025, “investigators from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department – Gangs/Narcotics Division, along with deputies from patrol stations, served two search warrants and contacted suspects at various locations in Apple Valley and Twentynine Palms” the SBCSD stated.

During the operation, law enforcement officers focused on individuals with gang affiliations and those prohibited from possessing firearms. As a result, three firearms were seized and suspected methamphetamine was located and confiscated.

The operation led to 19 felony arrests and 36 misdemeanor arrests during the operational period.

Notably, Proposition 36 titled “The Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act.”  – passed by California voters on November 5, 2024 – played a role in some of the arrests made.

“The proposition took effect on December 18, 2024, and reforms multiple laws from Proposition 47, which have been responsible for increasing homelessness, drug addiction and theft,” the department stated.

Proposition 36 introduces several new Penal and Health and Safety Codes that deputies can utilize during arrests when deemed appropriate.

These recent charges may result in stricter sentencing and could inhibit offenders from being released on citation before their court date. Proposition 36 was applicable to two of the arrests.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors has approved funding for a county-wide crime suppression initiative. This funding aims to enhance the Sheriff’s Department’s resources, enabling improved law enforcement services that address quality-of-life issues impacting local communities.

Looking ahead, Operation Consequences will focus on conducting targeted crime suppression operations in the High Desert and the Sheriff’s jurisdiction surrounding the city of San Bernardino.

The operation will include personnel from the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division, Specialized Enforcement Division, patrol stations, California Highway Patrol, San Bernardino County Probation, United States Marshals Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force, and Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

This large-scale operation is set to continue over the coming months, with the goal of “curbing violent crime, disrupting and dismantling targeted criminal street gangs, and locating and arresting criminals who are illegally possessing, manufacturing, and trafficking firearms.”