Man arrested after robbing his passenger at gunpoint

A 31-year-old parolee was behind bars Wednesday afterhis arrest on suspicion of robbing a woman’s cellphone at gunpoint as he droveher in a car in Palm Desert, authorities said.

Deputies called around 2:10 a.m. Monday to the area of San Nicholas andSan Anselmo avenues learned that the 18-year-old victim knew the suspect, whowas later identified as Ignacio Tolento of Cathedral City, said Sgt. DaveEichelt of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The woman said the man was driving her in a vehicle when he pulled a gunand demanded her phone, then let her out of the car once she handed it over,Eichelt said. The car was located at a nearby apartment complex and deputiestook Tolento into custody as he climbed out of a bathroom window, he said.

Tolento was booked into Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion ofarmed robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Eichelt said,adding that Tolento also was named in an outstanding parolee-at-large warrant.

“The suspect had been released on parole two weeks prior,” he said.

Tolento was being held without bail and was due in court in Indio onThursday, according to sheriff’s online booking records.