A 2-year-old died in last month's flooding. Now Barstow police have arrested the father on a murder charge

"During heavy rains last month, floodwaters swept away a car that carried 2-year-old Xavier Padilla Aguilera and his father, separating the two during a torrential downfall that filled the streets of Barstow with mud and rain. The boy's body was found hours later in the San Bernardino County flood control channel. The Barstow Police Department offered condolences to his family in a statement confirming the child's death, calling it a "tragedy.""

"But on Tuesday, police announced they had arrested the young boy's father, Brandon Padilla-Aguilera, on suspicion of murder. Barstow police officials revealed few details of their case or what led detectives to suspect foul play in the 2-year-old's death. But, according to a statement, investigators with the Barstow Police Department continued to look into Xavier's death after the flooding receded."

"During the Sept. 18 storm, emergency crews were called at about 7:14 p.m. to investigate a vehicle that had been swept away by floodwaters in the 24000 block of West Main Street in Barstow. The vehicle, officials said, had been overtaken by rising waters and carried into a wash north of West Main Street. Padilla-Aguilera and his son had reportedly gotten out of the car but, at some point, were separated."

Heavy rains in Barstow swept a car carrying 2-year-old Xavier Padilla Aguilera and his father, separating them as floodwaters filled streets and washes with mud and rain. Xavier's body was recovered hours later in the San Bernardino County flood control channel. Barstow Police offered condolences and called the death a tragedy. Investigators conducted a month-long probe, speaking with witnesses and collecting evidence, and obtained an arrest warrant based on that evidence. Emergency crews had responded to a vehicle carried into a wash on Sept. 18; the father was found on an island created by floodwaters while searches continued for more than 20 hours for the child. Brandon Padilla-Aguilera was taken into custody on suspicion of murder, and police released few details.

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