Two men suspected of stealing multiple items, including several firearms, in Palm Desert have been taken into custody, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday.
Deputies responded at about 2:10 p.m. on Dec. 22 to the 74000 block of Joni Drive to reports regarding a burglary, where the victim reported several firearms and other items stolen, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Robbery and Burglary Suppression Team assumed the investigation and identified 32-year-old Johnnie Schoonover of Banning and 32-year-old Joshua Whitis of Beaumont.
Both suspects were located at 2 p.m. Tuesday by RBST investigators, with assistance from the Palm Desert Business District Team, Rancho Mirage Problem-Oriented Policing Team, and Riverside County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Team, in the 11000 block of Legends Lane in Beaumont.
A search warrant was executed at the location, along with a separate location in the 1100 block of East Ramsey Street in Banning, sheriff’s officials said.
Several stolen items, including firearms — one of which was unregistered — were recovered during the search.
Schoonover and Whitis were both booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy, grand theft of firearms and possession of an unserialized firearm.
According to sheriff’s officials, Whitis has several active felony warrants for his arrest for being a felon in possession of ammunition and narcotics-related offenses.
Anyone with additional information regarding the case was urged to call Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Deputy Pouchoulen at 760-836-1600.