Mother & daughter arrested for attempted carjacking in Palm Springs

A Cathedral City woman and her 16-year-old daughter were recently arrested after police said they tried to steal a woman’s car at a storage facility in Palm Springs last Thursday.

Lt. Mike Kovaleff with the Palm Springs Police Department said officers were called to the 2000 block of Executive Drive around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday. The victim said she knew the two suspects who approached her at the storage facility.

According to the release, the victim said the teenage suspect pulled out a handgun and took property from her. Both the mother and daughter tried to take the victim’s car at that point and that’s when the teenager allegedly hit the victim over the head with the gun.

However, the suspects weren’t able to take the woman’s car and they left the scene in a different vehicle, Kovaleff said.

Officers investigated the incident that night and the next day they were able to contact the mother, 34-year-old Elvira Sanchez, at the Palm Springs Police Department. She was arrested and taken to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Police said they seized a loaded handgun during the investigation, which is believed to be the weapon used in the crime.

Sanchez is facing felony charges of robbery, possession of a loaded firearm by a prohibited person, attempted carjacking, conspiracy to commit a felony, child abuse, possession of an altered firearm and a probation violation.

On Saturday, detectives arrested her 16-year-old daughter. As with all juvenile suspects, her identity isn’t being released.

The teen is facing charges of felony second degree robbery, attempted carjacking, assault with a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a felony. The District Attorney’s Office will determine if the girl will be charged as an adult.