Officers in all the local law enforcement agencies in the Morongo Basin were honored by the Morongo Basin Chapter 71 of the International Footprint Association Wednesday night in Yucca Valley. The officer-of-the-year awards went to Deputy Scott Andrews for the Sheriff’s Court Services Department, CHP Officer Joan Griffin, Sheriff’s Deputy Jonathan Arden, Special Agent Darian Montgomery in the Naval Criminal Investigative Services, Joshua Tree National Park Ranger Myles Landry, Lieutenant David Dembowski for the Marine Corps Provost Marshal’s Office, and San Bernardino County Probation Officer II Christina Saxon.
In March 2015, Jonathan Arden was hired by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. He graduated in September 2015 from the 198th session of the Sheriff’s Basic Academy. After graduation, he was assigned to the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center. In April 2016, Arden was assigned to patrol and transferred to the Chino Hills station, serving the citizens of Chino Hills. In April 2017, he was transferred to the Morongo Basin Station. Arden is a respected deputy and his hard work and commitment to his profession led the station commander to assign him as a field training officer. In this capacity, Arden is trusted to train new deputies in all facets of police work. He serves as a mentor to other deputies, often guiding and training them to better serve the communities of the basin. Jonathan has investigated several critical and complex cases; among them are the following:
During a call for service, several suspects were feuding and attempted to rob the occupants of a residence. Shots were fired during the call. Arden collected evidence and identified the suspects. He wrote an arrest warrant for them, leading to four arrests for home invasion robbery, shooting at an inhabited dwelling, and conspiracy to commit a crime. He later arrested a fifth suspect for conspiracy and home invasion robbery.
Several burglary investigations resulting in seven arrests (two of which were known gang members) and the recovery of three firearms, two Off-Highway Vehicles and more than $60,000 in stolen property. While conducting one of the burglary investigations, Arden discovered the victim was a Marine Corp Major, who had a prosthetic leg as the result of a combat injury. Arden investigated the crime and locate a suspect. He recovered military equipment, as well as the prosthetic limb.
While conducting a welfare check at a residence, Arden identified several indicators of child neglect. His investigation led to the arrest of a subject for willful cruelty to a child. During a Child Protective Services follow-up, he discovered deplorable living conditions for seven children living at the location. The children were removed from the home and placed in foster care.
During a subject stop, Arden arrested two suspects for felony identity theft, after Arden discovered the suspects were in possession of a large amount of stolen mail.
In March 2018, he handled a call for service regarding potential illegal marijuana activity, which led him to a residence in the Morongo Basin. During the investigation, Arden authored a search warrant and seized approximately 60 lbs. of marijuana.
In October 2018, a male subject threatened to harm several persons and commit suicide. The subject eventually made it to the roof of his home, armed himself with a bow and arrow, and refused to get off the roof. Arden spoke with the male for approximately three hours. Arden was able to convince the subject to drop his weapons and to get off the roof. He was taken into custody without incident and was taken to a hospital for psychological care.
In November 2018, while conducting an investigation into several stolen items, he authored a search warrant and recovered 17 firearms, 50lbs. of marijuana and 26 grams of methamphetamine.
Sheriff’s Captain Trevis Newport said, “Arden is an established leader among his peers and is known as a tenacious investigator, who will not stop until all leads are exhausted. I am proud to present Deputy Jonathan Arden as the recipient of the Morongo Basin Footprint Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. Park Ranger Myles Landry was honored for his excellence performance as a law enforcement ranger for Joshua Tree National Park, and especially for his work in obtaining the conviction of George Graham for arson. In March 2018, Graham was observed watching flames rip through the iconic palm trees at the Oasis of Mara in Twentynine Palms and told park rangers he started the fire by igniting a palm frond with a cigarette lighter. The fire burned several palm trees but did not damage any structures. The oasis, which is next to the park’s headquarters, was settled by Native Americans who planted the 29 palm trees that inspired the name of the nearby city of Twentynine Palms. Graham was sentenced to five years in prison in September and ordered to pay $21,000 in restitution.
