Cathedral City man accused of leading police on short pursuit in stolen vehicle
Desert Hot Springs police arrested a man accused of leading officers on a short pursuit in a stolen vehicle Thursday morning.
Police responded to the 11100 block of Mesquite Avenue, Desert Hot Springs for a report of a stolen vehicle.
The victim reported his pickup truck had been stolen on Wednesday evening and recovered abandoned at 3 a.m. Thursday.
About four hours later it had been stolen again. While an officer was taking the second report, another officer located the vehicle driving in the area of 6th Street and Cactus Drive.
Officers attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle but the driver failed to stop and a brief vehicle pursuit ensued.
The driver attempted to jump from the moving vehicle on the 66500 block of Buena Vista Avenue and fled on foot.
He lost control of the vehicle and struck a palm tree causing the vehicle to overturn. The driver suffered only minor injuries and ran away on foot but was detained after a short pursuit.
Police identified him as 19-year-old Manuel Montenegro of Cathedral City. He was treated for his injuries and arrested.
He was later booked into the Riverside County Jail in Banning on charges for unlawful taking of a vehicle, felony evading, possession of stolen vehicle and violation of probation.