A 45-year-old Palm Springs man was arrested after allegedly leading officers on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle and being involved in a hit-and run-crash, authorities announced Friday.
Detectives from the Palm Springs Police Department Special Enforcement Unit were in the 68800 block of East Palm Canyon Drive in Cathedral City around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday when they observed Manuel Ortiz and attempted to contact him.
SEU detectives briefly contacted Ortiz, who quickly entered an older-model Toyota Tundra and drove away from the location, according to the police department.
Detectives began following the vehicle and requested that the Cathedral City Police Department conduct a traffic stop.
At the same time, the Cathedral City PD told SEU detectives that they had a pending call for service involving the same vehicle, which had allegedly been reported stolen.
SEU detectives followed the Tundra into Palm Springs, where a Palm Springs Police Department K-9 officer attempted a traffic enforcement stop, but Ortiz allegedly failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.
According to officers, Ortiz initially drove at slow speeds before accelerating, prompting officers to terminate the pursuit due to public safety concerns.
The Palm Springs PD Real-Time Intelligence Center continued to monitor the vehicle through aerial surveillance as Ortiz allegedly drove through multiple streets in Palm Springs, eventually returning to Cathedral City where he allegedly crashed the stolen vehicle into a used car lot.
Ortiz allegedly fled on foot and ran into a nearby gas station after the crash.
SEU detectives and Cathedral City PD officers subsequently took Ortiz into custody without further incident.
Ortiz was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of unlawful taking or driving of vehicle, possession or receiving of a stolen vehicle, felony evading and theft-related prior conviction enhancement, the Palm Springs PD announced.
Ortiz was expected to appear in court on Monday at the Indio Larson Justice Center.