Desert Hot Springs Man Accused In Palm Springs Home Invasion Robbery

A Desert Hot Springs man is behind bars Sunday for allegedly robbing a Palm Springs man inside his home.

Palm Springs police were called to a home on the 600 block of Monterey Road around 9:08 a.m. Saturday. The homeowner told officers he had been taking a shower, when he heard noises inside his home, according to police. When the homeowner left the shower, he confronted a man taking his laptop computer.

The suspect, 40-year-old Thomas Allen Rison, then struck the victim several times with the computer and took off, according to Sgt. Mike Kovaleff. Rison also took other items from the home.

Police said they later found Rison near the 900 block of North Cerritos Drive, but he fled on foot. According to Kovaleff, police established a containment perimeter in the neighborhood while Rison ran from yard to yard.

Rison eventually entered another home through an unlocked sliding glass door. However, this second homeowner turned out to be a retired law enforcement officer. According to police, the retired officer discovered Rison in his home and detained him at gunpoint until officers arrived.

Rison was arrested on suspicion of first degree robbery, burglary, possession of a deadly weapon and probation violation. The stolen items were found in the neighborhood. Rison was taken to the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.