Man accused of smashing car into high-end retail store on El Paseo in custody

A La Verne man being held at the county jail in Indio is suspected of involvement in the burglary of a Louis Vuitton store in Palm Desert.

His alleged accomplice was still at large.

It happened at about 12:40 a.m. Friday at 73515 El Paseo, when two suspects used a vehicle to smash the front doors of the Vuitton store, then went inside and stole merchandise.

At about 2:30 a.m., sheriff’s deputies saw a vehicle that fit the description of the suspects’ vehicle.

The driver, 30-year-old Hollian Houston Hannah, was detained after a short foot chase, according to sheriff’s Sgt. David Smith.

The vehicle had been stolen in Buena Park, and Hannah was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, Smith said.

Hannah pleaded not guilty to a felony vehicle theft charge at his arraignment Tuesday at the Larson Justice Center, according to court records.

The investigation later identified Hannah as a suspect in the Vuitton burglary, and authorities asked that a burglary charge be added. There are currently no burglary-related charges filed, according to court records.

Hannah is due back in court on Feb. 14, and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to jail records.

Anyone with information was asked to call the sheriff’s Palm Desert station at (760) 836-1600 or Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.