Deputies capture suspected car thief after pursuit and ground search

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says a suspected car thief is behind bars after leading deputies on a high speed pursuit and foot chase through a La Quinta neighborhood.

According to the Sheriff’s Department a 1994 Honda Accord was reported stolen early Tuesday morning from the area of the 44-000 block of Dune Palms Road in La Quinta.

Just before 9:15 a.m. a deputy recognized the stolen Honda in the area of Avenue 53 and Harrison Street. When the deputy attempted to stop the driver, he sped off, reaching speeds around 80 miles per hour. The driver finally stopped on the 50-000 block of Avenue 50 near Jackson Street and then fled on foot.

Deputies located the suspect about an hour later hiding under a trailer in the area. They arrested 20-year old Peter Julian Acevedo of Indio, and he has been booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on felony auto theft and felony evading arrest.