Charges expected for Palm Desert armed carjacking, chase

Felony charges are expected to be filed today against an 18-year-old man who allegedly stole a car at gunpoint with a teenage accomplice from a Palm Desert business, then led authorities on a high speed freeway pursuit across the county.

Deandre John Ray of Moreno Valley was arrested after he and a 16-year-old boy allegedly carjacked someone at 10:49 a.m. Sunday in the parking lot of a business in the 72400 block of Highway 111.

Ray allegedly took the car onto westbound Interstate 10 and was pursued briefly by sheriff’s deputies, who ended the pursuit for safety reasons, according to sheriff’s Sgt. David Wright.

The car was later spotted by California Highway Patrol officers off Interstate 10 in unincorporated Cabazon, where the 16-year-old was taken into custody. He was later booked into juvenile hall in Indio, according to Wright.

The chase continued with Ray allegedly driving west on Interstate 10 and the 60 freeway, where he exited in Moreno Valley. He allegedly stopped the car near Cottonwood Avenue and Heacock Street and was taken into custody, Wright said. He is being held in lieu of $120,000 bail.