Barstow Police on September 4 arrested Maurice Antonio “Mad Dog” Crawford, more than four weeks after he is believed to have shot another man in the head.
“On Thursday, August 6, 2026, Barstow Police officers responded to the 700 block of East Virginia Way regarding a shooting,” according to the Barstow Police Department. “Upon arrival, officers located a 32-year-old Barstow resident suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Barstow Fire Protection District and Desert Ambulance personnel responded and began life-saving measures. The victim was transported by helicopter to a regional trauma center, where he remains hospitalized and continues to receive treatment for his injuries.”
The Barstow Police Department Detective Division responded and assumed the investigation. During the course of the investigation, detectives determined the shooting to be gang-related. Detective Bryce Carson identified the suspect as 22-year-old Barstow resident Maurice Crawford.
An arrest warrant was issued for Crawford. A week later, a Penal Code Section 664/187(a), attempted murder charge was filed against him in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Crawford remained at large for three weeks, as detectives were unable to locate him at any of his usual haunts in Barstow.
On Friday, September 4, 2026, acting on information that had been developed during the investigation and with the assistance of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Division, Barstow detectives found Crawford and arrested him at 2:21 p.m. at 11610 Chamberlain Way in Adelanto.
He was subsequently booked at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto on the attempted murder charge, being a felon in possession of a firearm and operating motor vehicle without a license.
Crawford’s criminal history is not confined to cases adjudicated in San Bernardino County Superior Court.
Accessible documents regarding cases involving Crawford in San Bernardino Superior Court show that on October 1, 2025, he pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge that he violated Vehicle Codes Section 23152(A)-M, driving under the infuence, on November 13, 2024
Pending against him at the time of the shooting were two charges stemming from his arrest on March 28, 2025, one being a misdemeanor Vehicle Code 23152(A)-M section count of driving under the influence and a misdemeanor Vehicle Code 23152(B)-M violation of driving under the influence with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or higher.
He is also being sued for divorce by Vanessa Crawford and is simultaneously a party in a governmental complaint to establish child support and health insurance brought against Wynell Zayla Hodges by the County of San Bernardino.
Crawford is being held in lieu of $1,000,100 bail.