Four men in their 20s suspected of a carjacking and armed robbery in Palm Desert were taken into custody after being located during the execution of search warrants, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.
Investigators with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Springs Police Department, District Attorney’s Gang Impact Team, and U.S. Marshals Service executed residential warrants at 7 a.m. Thursday at the following locations stemming from an investigation of an armed robbery and carjacking June 3:
— the 2700 block of Michigan Drive in the Salton Sea neighborhood;
— the 60 block of La Jolla Drive in Desert Shores;
— the 11300 block of Ocotillo Road in Desert Hot Springs;
— the 81800 block of Avenida Del Mar in Indio; and
— and the 67 block of San Jacinto, also in Desert Hot Springs.
Deputies were sent to the 71000 block of Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage around 11:45 p.m. on June 3 regarding an armed robbery, where two victims were assaulted and robbed at gunpoint, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Several minutes later, deputies responded to a carjacking in the 73000 block of Santa Rosa Way in Palm Desert, where the victim reported that several men with firearms stole his vehicle after a scuffle.
“Based on the suspects’ description and vehicle, it was determined both crimes were committed by the same suspect,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
The victim’s cellphone was left inside the vehicle, assisting deputies with tracking the suspects to a location on Angela Court in Indio.
“As deputies arrived in the area, the victim’s vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, and a vehicle pursuit was authorized. After stopping near the intersection of Colby Way and Monroe Street in Indio, the driver fled on foot and was not located,” sheriff’s officials said.
Further investigation led deputies to a residence in the 45000 block of Bradley Way, where they executed a search warrant and located both suspects, along with the vehicle used during the alleged robbery.
Investigators identified the suspects as 20-year-old Vincent Caballero of Thermal and 25-year-old David Bustos of Indio.
Caballero was booked on suspicion of carjacking, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon. Bustos was booked on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Both suspects were booked into the John Benoit Detention Center.
The additional suspects involved were identified as 20-year-old Garrett Rivera of Desert Shores and 23-year-old Paul Garcia Nava III of Desert Hot Springs.
Both suspects were also booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of robbery, carjacking and assault with a deadly weapon.
Anyone with information regarding the robbery and carjacking was call to contact Investigator Hickok at 760-836-1600.