Four suspects charged after stolen vehicle pursuit from San Jacinto to Palm Desert mall

Four suspects were in custody after their alleged involvement in a stolen vehicle case, with charges filed against two of them during arraignments today.

 Palm Desert residents Cayden Lopez, 20 and Noeli Bautista, 19, each made initial court appearances during arraignments at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Friday, according to inmate and case records.

Lopez pleaded not guilty to felony charges of purchasing or receiving a stolen vehicle and evading arrest, denying a bail-related enhancement as well. Bautista pleaded not guilty to a felony count of being an accessory after the fact.

 Riverside Sheriff's Aviation Unit staff told the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station that a black Chevrolet Camaro was stolen Wednesday afternoon from a location near Menifee, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department statement. The Aviation Unit located the vehicle and tracked it into Palm Desert, where it entered the parking structure of a business in the 72000 block of Highway 111.

The occupants allegedly fled from the stolen vehicle and entered the business, at which point deputies established a perimeter and unsuccessfully searched for the suspects.

Deputies continued to investigate, leading them to a Cathedral City residence in the 32000 block of Sky Blue Water Trail.   

After locating the suspects at the residence and cross-referencing the business' surveillance footage to establish identity, four suspects were arrested. They were identified as Lopez, Bautista, 20-year-old Cathedral City resident Antwone Lewis Robinson and 19-year-old Cathedral City resident Samantha Ray.

A loaded, unregistered handgun was allegedly found during a search of Robinson, who was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and possession of an unregistered firearm, according to the statement.  

All four suspects were booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio, according to the statement. Lopez and Bautista were charged today, while Ray and Robinson were scheduled to make initial court appearances on Sept. 20. Ray is expected to receive the same charge as Bautista.

Anyone with additional information was encouraged to contact the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station at 760-836-1600.