Transient arrested after police spot him in stolen truck

A transient man is facing several felony charges after officers with the Palm Springs Police Department spotted him behind the wheel of a stolen pickup truck Wednesday afternoon.

According to Lieutenant Mike Kovaleff, officers saw the stolen 2007 Chevrolet Silverado near South Camino Real and East Palm Canyon Drive at about 3:50 p.m. The truck was reported stolen to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in August.

Officers stopped the truck in the 1700 block of South Camino Real. They said 37-year-old Ramon Paolo Mappala was driving the Silverado and they found additional stolen property inside the truck.

Mappala was arrested for vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, and for violating the terms of his probation; all felony charges, according to Kovaleff’s release.

Police said the stolen vehicle was returned to the owner and Mappala was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.