Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Suspected Loma Linda/Redlands Robber Pleads Not Guilty

Nathaniel Dawson is suspected of attempted homicide and in at least 10 robberies committed in Loma Linda, Highland and Redlands.

A 45-year-old Highland man accused of robbing several businesses and shooting a cashier at a Dairy Queen pleaded not guilty to several to charges of second degree robbery and attempted murder.

Nathaniel Dawson was arraigned Friday at the San Bernardino County Superior Court. He faces 12 counts of second-degree robbery, three counts of kidnapping, one count of attempted second-degree robbery and one count of attempted murder.

He could face 120 years to life in prison if convicted on all charges, said San Bernardino County District Attorney Mike Ramos.

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Authorities said Dawson went on a robbery spree, hitting at least 10 businesses throughout Loma Linda, Redlands and Highland. But the trail of robberies may actually stretch from Redlands into the cities of Ontario, Artesia, Fullerton and Tustin.

In each robbery a gunman barged in, brandished a gun and demanded money, officials said. He typically wore a black hoodie, dark pants and a black bandana over his face, investigators said.

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Redlands Police and Sheriff’s investigators teamed as soon as it was determined they were dealing with a serial robber, officials said. The investigation took an even larger sense of urgency after a young female employee was shot during the March 23 robbery of a Redlands Dairy Queen.

“It was a great concern that the violence was escalating,” said Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Joe Palomino.

Following the April 12 robbery of a Subway Sandwiches in Loma Linda, the team of investigators gathered at the Sheriff’s Headquarters in San Bernardino to strategize. As the team met, a Wendy’s Restaurant on Base Line in Highland was robbed.

From that incident, detectives got a break when a witness saw the robber take off in a green Nissan Cube. About 4 p.m. Wednesday, a deputy spotted the Cube in the area of Base Line and Victoria Avenue in Highland and made a traffic stop. Dawson was at the wheel.

“I’m thrilled,” Liz Schroeder of Redlands said when she got the news. “I go to Stell Coffee all the time, and I was worried every time I went in for a cup of coffee. I’m really happy he’s been caught.”

Stell Coffee and Sheer Perfection in Redlands were among the businesses robbed. The crime spree made many Redlands and Loma Linda residents fearful. Some posted flyers with the robber’s description around town.

“You knew sooner or later he was going to get caught, and I’m glad it was sooner rather than later,” said Stephanie Mora, of Redlands. “It probably would have escalated. He shot someone for no reason, so it made you wonder what he’s capable of.”

Dawson has an impressive criminal record San Bernardino County Sheriff Rod Hoops said, though he did not know all it included.

Ramos said his office intends to prosecute to the fullest.

“This person is going to be held responsible and accountable and will never, will never, be on the street again of this county or any other county in the state of California,” Ramos said.


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