A routine neighbor dispute in a California desert community erupted into a terrifying showdown when a 22-year-old man allegedly grabbed a sword, threatened to kill his neighbor and charged at a sheriff’s deputy.
Newly released body camera footage captured the tense confrontation Aug. 3 at Desert Oasis Mobile Estates in Rosamond, where Kern County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called around 5:30 p.m. following a reported disturbance.
When a deputy arrived, Joshua Dribin, 22, began explaining that he was furious with a neighbor who allegedly kept revving his truck while Dribin was trying to sleep. Dribin told the deputy that he had already asked the neighbor to stop, but the alleged noise continued.
“I’m going to make him where he can’t come near me,” Dribin says in the footage.
The deputy immediately pushed back telling him he can’t do that.
“I can too and you guys can’t stop me. I’ll be right back,” Dribin responds.
The situation then took a frightening turn. Dribin can be heard yelling from inside his house that he was going to “take care of it,” according to the footage.
The deputy attempted to intervene trying to reassure Dribin that he was going to talk with the neighbor about the noise. But the suspect appeared to grow increasingly agitated.
“I’m tired of him waking me up! I’m going to go kill him now! I’m done!” he shouted.
The deputy then radioed that Dribin had a sword. Moments later, Dribin emerged from the residence armed with the blade. He then allegedly confronted the deputy and charged toward him.
“Hold that gun, bitch! Go ahead and shoot me!” Dribin yelled.
The deputy ultimately opened fire as Dribin advanced. The suspect was struck and suffered injuries that authorities said were not life-threatening. Deputies provided treatment at the scene before he was transported by ambulance to a hospital.
No deputies or other civilians were injured in the shooting.
Dribin was subsequently arrested and faces several charges, including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, resisting a peace officer using force, and exhibiting a deadly weapon at a peace officer to resist arrest.
The Kern County Sheriff’s Office Homicide Division took over the investigation into the shooting, as is standard for deadly-force incidents involving department personnel. The findings are submitted to the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for criminal review.
On Sept. 3, the department’s Incident Review Board examined the use of force during the confrontation.
The board determined that the deputy’s use of force was within department policy, according to the sheriff’s office.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at 661-861-3110 or Kern Secret Witness at 661-322-4040.
