Man arrested for carjacking, elder abuse after chase from Hemet to Desert Hot Springs

A man was arrested last week on suspicion of carjacking and elder abuse, among a string of other charges, following a high-speed chase that ended in Desert Hot Springs, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.

On December 27 at 4:55 p.m., PSPD received a report of a carjacking in parking lot on the 400 block of South Sunrise Way. Arriving officers spoke with the victim, a passenger in the stolen vehicle, who said that the suspect entered the unlocked driver's side of the car when she was sitting in the passenger's seat. The vehicle was idling while the victim waited for the driver to return.

The suspect, later identified 29-year-old Modesto resident Michael Mitchell, reportedly threatened to shoot the victim, who tried to yell for help and grab her purse. Mitchell then allegedly shoved the victim to the ground and drove off.

Investigating detectives were able to track Mitchell back to the city of Hemet with the assistance of the Riverside County Gang Task Force-Region 3, Hemet Police, and Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Mitchell led law enforcement on a high-speed chase which ended in the city of Desert Hot Springs after a high-risk stop was successfully executed.

According to county jail records, he was arrested at 8:29 p.m. near the intersection of North Indian Canyon Drive and Mission Lakes Boulevard in Desert Hot Springs.

According to PSPD, the victim positively identified Mitchell and he was booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Mitchell faces five felony charges: vehicle theft, 2nd-degree robbery, carjacking, evading a peace officer/reckless driving, and elder abuse.

He is being held on $100,000 bail at Indio Jail, per county jail records.

He is set to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on January 2.