Two plead not guilty to stolen vehicle charges

Felony charges were filed Monday against the alleged driver in a stolen vehicle pursuit in Desert Hot Springs, along with one of her passengers, who is accused of being an accessory after the fact in a murder that occurred earlier this year.

Angelica Cortina, 22, of Desert Hot Springs, is accused of leading Desert Hot Springs police and sheriff’s deputies on a short pursuit last Thursday in a vehicle stolen out of Nevada. She is charged with felony evading arrest and firearm possession.

Christian Salas, 24, whose hometown is unclear, is charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest in connection with Thursday’s pursuit.

He’s also accused of being an accessory in a murder and manslaughter case dating back to March, according to the criminal complaint, which alleges that Salas aided a man in concealing the crimes, the details of which were unavailable.

The chase began just before 3 p.m. Thursday after police spotted a car with no license plates near Palm Drive and Dillon Road.

The driver, later identified as Cortina, allegedly refused to pull over, triggering the chase, which ended when Salas and 29-year-old Juan Dorado ran from the car.

Bubbling Wells Elementary School was placed on lockdown while authorities searched for Salas and Dorado, who were taken into custody by sheriff’s deputies on Camino Campanero, just west of the school.

Officers found “numerous rounds of live ammunition and a replica firearm” inside the car after arresting Cortina.

Charges had not been filed against Dorado as of Monday afternoon.

A fourth person inside the car was released and will not face criminal charges.

Cortina and Salas both entered not guilty pleas on Monday afternoon and are due back in court September 7 for a felony settlement conference.