A trio who allegedly carjacked a motorist at gunpoint, then tried to flee from arresting officers, were in custody Friday.
Christian Salas, 25, Stephanie Dierkes, 25, and an unidentified 17-year-old boy, all of Desert Hot Springs, were arrested Thursday on suspicion of carjacking, kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a crime, Sgt. Christopher Saucier said.
Police say the suspects robbed a man at gunpoint, who reported the carjacking to police at around 5 a.m. Thursday in the 66800 block of Ironwood Drive. The trio took his vehicle and “other valuables,” but the man was otherwise uninjured, Saucier said.
Police later tracked down “several people of interest” at a nearby residence, Saucier said.
When officers approached the home, “several occupants attempted to flee on foot, but were detained,” leading investigators to serve search warrants at several locations, make arrests and seize firearms, the sergeant said.
Thursday’s investigation into the carjacking was conducted by Desert Hot Springs police, as well as the Post-Release Accountability Team and Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force.