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A domestic violence suspect with multiple outstanding warrants led police on a high-speed chase through Barstow on Tuesday, reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, before abandoning his vehicle and breaking into an occupied home in an attempt to evade capture, authorities said.

Gabriel Romero, 35, of Barstow, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, domestic violence, reckless evading of police, and resisting or obstructing police, according to San Bernardino County jail records.

The incident began around 11 a.m. on June 23, when officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at a motel in the 1300 block of West Main Street, according to Barstow Police Department officials.

Police determined that Romero had assaulted his girlfriend and fled before officers arrived, the department said in a written statement. Officers also discovered that Romero had several active felony arrest warrants related to charges including burglary, grand theft, drug possession, and multiple counts of vehicle theft, according to police and county records.

Responding officers spotted Romero driving in the area and attempted to pull him over, but he sped away, initiating a pursuit, officials said.

"The driver failed to yield, committed several additional traffic violations, and a vehicle pursuit ensued with speeds reaching up to 100 mph," the police statement said.

The chase ended just under 5 miles away in the 3600 block of West Main Street, where Romero abandoned the car and fled on foot through a desert area adjacent to a residential neighborhood, police said.

"Romero forced his way inside an occupied residence, and officers chased him inside," according to the statement. "Romero locked himself in a bathroom before officers forced the door open and took Romero into custody without further incident."

The suspect is being held without bail pending legal proceedings.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately stop unlawful mining activities at the Colosseum Mine within the Mojave National Preserve, a unit of the National Park System. The motion, filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles, seeks to prevent further damage to the fragile desert landscape.

Mining at the Colosseum Mine ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the site for public use. However, in April 2025, the Trump administration reversed course and approved new mining operations at the location.

Since then, grading, bulldozing, and road development have caused documented, irreparable harm to the desert environment and restricted public access to the preserve.

The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts. The injunction request asks the court to intervene to safeguard the desert landscape that Congress designated for perpetual preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern over the ongoing activities. "What's happening right now at Mojave National Preserve is gut-wrenching.

To see parts of this landscape, in the heart of the Clark Mountains, being stripped bare and graded down to dirt is hard to put into words. We can't sit by and allow irreparable damage to change this place that was promised to future generations, and that's why we're urging the court to step in to protect the park now."

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney, added, "Bulldozing, road construction, and mining within the Mojave National Preserve will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of our most treasured public places. The Colosseum Mine is proceeding with operations despite being in violation of national environmental laws.

We're seeking a preliminary injunction to halt this destruction before it's too late."

The Colosseum Mine is located near Amboy in San Bernardino County, within the Mojave National Preserve. The NPCA's legal action underscores the ongoing conflict between conservation efforts and resource extraction in protected areas.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately halt mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve, a protected unit of the National Park System. The move comes after the Trump administration approved new mining at the site in April 2025, reversing a long-standing closure that had been in place since 1993.

The National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the mine and restoring the land for public use when the approval was granted.

According to the NPCA, recent activities at the mine—including grading, bulldozing, and road construction—have caused documented and irreparable damage to the fragile desert landscape. The organization, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts.

The motion for an injunction seeks court intervention to prevent further destruction.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern over the situation. "What’s happening right now at Mojave National Preserve is gut-wrenching," he said.

"To see parts of this landscape, in the heart of the Clark Mountains, being stripped bare and graded down to dirt is hard to put into words. We can’t sit by and allow irreparable damage to change this place that was promised to future generations."

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney, emphasized the urgency of the situation. "Bulldozing, road construction, and mining within the Mojave National Preserve will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of our most treasured public places," she said.

"The Colosseum Mine is proceeding with operations despite being in violation of national environmental laws. We’re seeking a preliminary injunction to halt this destruction before it’s too late."

The Colosseum Mine is located in the Clark Mountains within the preserve, which was established by the California Desert Protection Act of 1994. Congress designated the area to be preserved in perpetuity for the American people.

The NPCA argues that the new mining operations violate that promise and the laws that safeguard national parks.

The motion for a preliminary injunction was filed in federal court on June 24, 2026. The NPCA and Earthjustice are asking the court to step in immediately to protect the desert environment and ensure public access to the preserve is not further restricted.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately stop unlawful mining activities at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve, a protected unit of the National Park System. The motion, filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles, seeks to prevent further irreversible damage to the fragile desert landscape.

Mining at the Colosseum site ceased in 1993, and the National Park Service was in the final stages of reclaiming the mine for public use. However, the Trump administration reversed course in April 2025, approving new mining operations.

Recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction have already caused documented, irreparable harm to the desert environment and restricted public access to the preserve.

NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, alleging violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining impacts. The injunction request asks the court to intervene to safeguard the area Congress designated for permanent preservation under the 1994 California Desert Protection Act.

Chance Wilcox, NPCA’s California Desert Program Manager, expressed deep concern: "What’s happening right now at Mojave National Preserve is gut-wrenching. To see parts of this landscape, in the heart of the Clark Mountains, being stripped bare and graded down to dirt is hard to put into words.

We can’t sit by and allow irreparable damage to change this place that was promised to future generations, and that’s why we’re urging the court to step in to protect the park now."

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney, added: "Bulldozing, road construction, and mining within the Mojave National Preserve will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of our most treasured public places. The Colosseum Mine is proceeding with operations despite being in violation of national environmental laws.

We’re seeking a preliminary injunction to halt this destruction before it’s too late."

The Colosseum Mine is located near the Amboy area in San Bernardino County, within the Mojave National Preserve. The NPCA and Earthjustice are urging the court to act swiftly to protect this unique desert ecosystem.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to immediately stop mining operations at the Colosseum Mine within Mojave National Preserve, alleging irreparable damage to the fragile desert landscape. The motion, filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, seeks to block further activity at the mine, which was originally closed in 1993 and was in the final stages of reclamation by the National Park Service.

However, in April 2025, the Trump administration approved a reversal, allowing new mining to proceed. Recent grading, bulldozing, and road construction at the site have caused documented harm to the environment and limited public access to the preserve, according to the NPCA.

The NPCA, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit in April challenging the administration's decision, citing violations of multiple federal laws designed to protect national parks from harmful mining. The organization is now asking the court to intervene before further damage occurs.

"What's happening right now at Mojave National Preserve is gut-wrenching," said Chance Wilcox, NPCA's California Desert Program Manager. "To see parts of this landscape, in the heart of the Clark Mountains, being stripped bare and graded down to dirt is hard to put into words.

We can't sit by and allow irreparable damage to change this place that was promised to future generations."

Katrina Tomas, an Earthjustice attorney, emphasized the urgency: "Bulldozing, road construction, and mining within the Mojave National Preserve will irreversibly harm the desert landscape in one of our most treasured public places. The Colosseum Mine is proceeding with operations despite being in violation of national environmental laws.

We're seeking a preliminary injunction to halt this destruction before it's too late." The NPCA argues that the mining activity violates the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, which designated the area for permanent preservation. The court is expected to rule on the injunction request in the coming weeks.