Felony charges are expected to be filed Wednesday against two brothers suspected of perpetrating three robberies in quick succession in Perris, then escaping from Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and hitting a patrol unit before the chase ended.
Angel Ortega, 31, of Fresno, and Victor Ortega, 29, of Perris, were arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on Sunday night on suspicion of robbery and vandalism, while Angel Ortega alone was additionally booked for alleged assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon.
Victor Ortega was being held in lieu of $55,000 bail, while his older brother is being held on $30,000 bail.
Their case is under review by the District Attorney’s Office.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Dave Tinker, between 8 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday, the brothers allegedly cruised through locations in the 500 block of West Fourth Street, the 400 block of West Nuevo Road and the 1400 block of South A Street, targeting people walking in each area.
“The suspects pulled up to the victims in their vehicle, brandished a firearm and demanded their property before fleeing the different locations,” Tinker said. “The victims were robbed of various items, including a cell phone, a wallet with cash and a backpack.”
The sergeant said patrol deputies responded to the victims’ 911 calls and confirmed a short time later that a silver 2019 Chevrolet Cruze with California license plate 8-X-P-V-6-5-0 was involved in each alleged holdup.
Tinker said the vehicle was spotted by a unit near the intersection of Perris Boulevard and the Ramona Expressway, prompting deputies to attempt a traffic stop.
“The suspect vehicle appeared to stop but then accelerated and sideswiped the patrol unit before heading south on Perris Boulevard,” he said. “Deputies initiated a vehicle pursuit that lasted about a minute and terminated in a field just north of a business in the 800 block of North Perris Boulevard, where the (suspects’) vehicle became stuck.”
Tinker alleged that the two men attempted to run away but were quickly apprehended without further incident.
No one was injured.
Tinker said a search of the vehicle turned up items allegedly taken during the robberies, as well as “two replica firearms.”
Background information on the brothers was unavailable.