Palm Springs kidnapping, carjacking suspect at large

Police are looking for a man who car jacked and kidnapped a man in Palm Springs, and led police on a pursuit Friday.

Police say Friday night around 11 p.m., a man approached another man in his car along Gene Autry and Ramon Rd. The victim says the suspect threatened that he had a weapon, and demanded the victim drive him to the city of Desert Hot Springs.

The victim drove the suspect to the 14000 block of Palm Drive in Desert Hot Springs. The victim was not hurt, exited his car, and called 911 from a nearby business. The suspect took off in the victim’s vehicle.

About 30 minutes later, the Palm Springs Police Department located the stolen car driving in the area of Gene Autry Trail and District Center Drive. The suspect refused to stop for police, and a pursuit ensued.

The suspect drove westbound on I-10 along the shoulder area of the eastbound lanes while officers followed from the westbound side of I-10. The three minute pursuit ended when the suspect crashed the vehicle into a street sign in the area of I-10 and North Indian Canyon.

The suspect ran off into the desert and was not found. There were no other crashes, and no reports of injury from this incident.

Police say the suspect is a white male adult in his 40s, wearing a black beanie and all dark clothing with possible paint spots on the clothing. Although the man initially threatened to have a weapon, there was not one found.

If you have any information about this crime, please call the Palm Springs Police Department Detective Bureau at 760-323-8116 or Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP or 760-341-7867.