News & Columns > G.T. Houts > Another Suspect Charged With Murder (Update 5)

Another Suspect Charged With Murder (Update 5)

Sheriff's Public Affairs Press Release

By G.T. Houts
Saturday, June 28, 2008

Update 5 — Saturday, June 28 5:48 a.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA — Upgraded charges have been filed against an 18-year-old Sugarloaf man who is now charged with murder in the fatal beating of 20-year-old Michael Aaron Lundin.

On Friday, Detective Jason Radeleff filed supplemental murder charges against Christopher Michael Day in the killing of Lundin apparently over loud music from a car stereo, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff's investigators.

Day was originally arrested for assault with great bodily injury on June 19, 2008.

Chalen Wesley Winters is also charged with Lundin's murder. Winters celebrated his 19th birthday this past week while incarcerated at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

A pre-preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday (July 1)for both Day and Winters before Judge Michael Dest in San Bernardino Superior Court.

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Tiffany Swantek. (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

Mark Anthony Potts, 18, and David Alexander Ferguson, 19, will also appear before Judge Dest next Tuesday. They are charged with assault with a deadly weapon stemming from the alleged beating of two unidentified men on June 18 where Lundin was killed.

Detectives urge anyone with information to contact Sheriff's Homicide Detail at 909-387-3589 or We-Tip at 800-78-CRIME(782-7463).

Update 4 — Friday, June 27, 2008, 5 p.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA — On June 27, 2008, Detective Jason Radeleff filed a supplemental booking charge of murder against Christopher Day, 18, of Sugarloaf. Day was originally arrested for assault with great bodily injury on June 19, 2008.

Through the ongoing investigation, Detective Radeleff was able to establish Day was also responsible for the murder of Michael Aaron Lundin, 20, of Big Bear Lake.

Chalen Wesley Winters, 18, of Big Bear Lake, was also charged with the murder on June 19.

The investigation is still ongoing. Investigators urge anyone with information to contact Sheriff's Homicide Detail at 909-387-3589 or We-Tip at 800-78-CRIME(782-7463).

Update 3 — Monday, June 23, 2008, 4:30 p.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA — The teenager accused of killing 20-year-old Michael Aaron Lundin was arraigned in Superior Court Monday and held without bail.

Judge David Cohn arraigned Chalen Wesley Winters Monday afternoon. Winters' next court appearance will be a pre-preliminary hearing before Judge Michael Dest in Department S-23 at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1.

Winters is currently in custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

The disposition of the arraignments of three others charged with assault in the same incident last Wednesday were not immediately available.

Update 2 — Friday, June 20, 2008, 8:46 a.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA – Four Big Bear teenagers are now in custody stemming from an altercation Wednesday night that led to the death of 20-year-old Michael Aaron Lundin. Chalen Wesley Winters, 18, is charged with murder and being held without bail.

At 8:30 p.m. Thursday, homicide detectives arrested David Alexander Ferguson, 19, at the Big Bear Station for assault with great bodily injury. Investigators learned Ferguson allegedly was involved in assaulting one of two unnamed victims. Bail has been set at $100,000.

Earlier, detectives arrested two 18-year-old men on similar charges. Their bail is also set at $100,000.

Update — Friday, June 20, 2008, 5:11 a.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA – Three Big Bear teenagers are in custody today stemming from an altercation Wednesday night that led to the death of 20-year-old Michael Aaron Lundin. Chalen Wesley Winters, 18, is charged with murder and being held without bail.

Two other 18-year-olds, Mark Anthony Potts and Christopher Michael Day, are charged with assault with great bodily injury and are being held on $100,000 bail at the Big Bear Jail.

In a media advisory issued by Sheriff's Department spokesperson Tiffany Swantek, Winters, who listed his occupation as a painter, reportedly struck Lundin with a blunt object causing the injury, which likely resulted in his death in the 700 block of Knickerbocker Avenue about 10:33 p.m. Wednesday. An autopsy has been scheduled by the San Bernardino County Coroner to determine the exact cause of death.

"Winters surrendered himself to detectives at the Big Bear Station with his attorney," Swantek's news release reported.

During the altercation where Lundin died, two other unidentified victims were assaulted leading to the arrest of Potts and Day.

"On June 18," Swantek's advisory continued, "Potts and Day came to the Big Bear Station to talk with investigators about the murder investigation. It was determined Potts and Day assaulted two subjects during the altercation on Knickerbocker. As a result Potts and Day were arrested and booked into the Big Bear Jail."

The initial response to the 10:33 p.m. incident followed a medical aid call for a man down near Knickerbocker Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. Fire and medical personnel arrived and discovered Lundin was not breathing and appeared to be a victim of an assault. Lundin was transported to Bear Valley Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

A number of witnesses to the incident were interviewed by detectives including the two unnamed assault victims.

Anyone with additional information about the case is asked to contact Detective Jason Radeleff or Sergeant Tony DeCecio at (909) 387-3589 or for anonymous tips they can call 1-800-78-CRIME (27463).

Update — Thursday, June 19, 2008, 7:24 p.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA – The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has arrested 18-year-old Chalen Wesley Winters on suspicion of killing a 20-year-old man Wednesday night in the 700 block of Knickerbocker Avenue.

Spokesperson Tiffany Swantek announced Winters surrendered himself to detectives at the Big Bear Station with his attorney.

The 20-year-old victim has been identified as Michael Lundin of Big Bear Lake.

Additional details will be announced shortly.

Original Story — Thursday, June 19, 2008, 11:54 p.m.

Big Bear Lake, CA – Closed door interviews are being conducted in Big Bear Lake today as homicide detectives try to piece together information about the murder of a 20-year-old man late last night.

Details of the incident are very sketchy, but a press release issued by the Big Bear Sheriff's Department reported medical aid was summoned for a man down in the 700 block of Knickerbocker Avenue about 10:33 p.m. last night.

"Fire and medical aid personnel," according to a media advisory issued by public information officer Tiffany Swantek, "arrived on scene and discovered the subject was not breathing and appeared to be the victim of an assault. The victim was transported to Bear Valley Community Hospital where he was pronounced deceased."

The San Bernardino County Coroner has scheduled an autopsy later this week to determine the exact cause of death.

Sheriff's Department spokesperson Arden Wiltshire told RIMOFTHEWORLD.net homicide detectives believe last night's incident may have been related to an altercation that occurred Tuesday night in the parking lot of a fast food restaurant on Big Bear Boulevard.

The investigation is ongoing. Individuals with information about the homicide are urged to contact Detective John Radeleff or Sergeant Tony DeCecio at (909) 387-3589. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 1-800-782-7463.