HESPERIA — Despite recent concerns from residents, Hesperia Lake Park and law enforcement officials assert the area continues to be safe and patrols are consistently maintained.
The park has long been a popular local destination where camping, fishing and other activities are typically enjoyed. However, after a Daily Press photographer was attacked while taking photographs at the lake last month, some residents have brought up concerns about the safety of the lake and what they claimed was a lack of patrols by sheriff’s deputies and park officers.
Residents who want to fish at Hesperia Lake must pay $18 per session, and a five-fish limit is enforced. Seniors who are Hesperia residents can fish for $15 on Wednesday and Thursday, excluding holidays. For children 10 years and younger, a $6 fee with a two-fish limit is enforced. The lake is stocked every week, according to the Hesperia Lake website.
One regular at the lake who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal told the Daily Press the park is experiencing problems with people who do not follow fishing rules.
“They just drive through and throw their poles out there and say ‘I’m going to fish for free,’” he said.
He claimed people often get belligerent when confronted by lake monitors, who typically go around the lake to check that people fishing are wearing the wristband given to them after they pay the fishing fee.
“In the summertime, it’s ugly,” he said. “They’re drinking, getting high, get belligerent and in lake monitors’ faces. One of these days, someone is going to get hurt.”
However, Hesperia Recreation and Parks District General Manager Lindsey Woods disputed those claims when contacted by the Daily Press.
“Do we have people that bend the rules, fish with too many poles, possibly not check into the store? Yes,” Woods said. “But 99 percent of the time, we have no issues with fishermen.”
Woods also disputed claims that there is a lack of patrols at the lake, both from park officers and deputies.
“We have a park ranger program that patrols all (Hesperia) parks and properties on a daily basis,” Woods said.
He said the rangers are Parks District employees and described them as sworn peace officers. At least two rangers typically patrol the lake every day, Woods said.
“We’re the only agency that has specific park rangers to patrol our parks,” Woods said. “They work in conjunction with the Hesperia Sheriff’s Station.”
Hesperia Sheriff’s Station spokeswoman Karen Hunt provided some rough statistics showing the number of patrols and area checks conducted by deputies at Hesperia Lake for two time periods, ranging from July 2014 to June 2015 and July 2015 to early June 2016. In the 2014/2015 year, 216 calls were recorded, while the following year 206 were logged.
Many of these calls were “self-initiated proactive patrol,” which mean deputies were not responding to a call for service but instead going into the area to conduct an area check and make sure all was well, Hunt said.
“Other than the occasional person being a little over-beveraged,” Hunt said, “I really don’t hear much at the lake.”
She mentioned some calls for service at the lake may have been handled by Park rangers and would not show up on deputies’ logs.
Woods told the Daily Press despite the attack at the lake last month, the area was still safe and a popular destination for families.
“The incident that occurred with the photographer was an isolated incident,” Woods said. “Thanks to the conjoined efforts of the community and Sheriff’s Department, the people responsible were found and arrests were made.”
Authorities previously said Steven Andrew Mancillas, 20, and Erika Aliyah Ochoa, 21, both of Hesperia, was arrested in connection to the attack.
While charges against Ochoa were eventually dropped, Mancillas pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and vandalism with damage over $400.
Mancillas is out on bond, according to court records, and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.
Woods expressed his dismay at the attack, but again reiterated that the lake and park were still a safe place for local residents to enjoy.
"It’s unfortunate that the actions of a few can affect perceptions,” Woods said. “I can personally attest the park is full of adults and children who enjoy the area. I want people to know the park is a safe place.”