Man to stand trial for robbing business, leading police on chase across valley

A Riverside man who allegedly robbed a La Quinta business and led sheriff’s deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle in 2017 was ordered to stand trial today on felony charges of robbery, evading arrest, and vehicle theft.

Raul Tamayo Jr., 38, is accused in the March 16, 2017, pursuit stemming from an alleged theft at a La Quinta business, which ended with Tamayo’s arrest on Interstate 10 in Cathedral City.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Dale Wells found there was sufficient evidence in the case at a preliminary hearing, and ordered Tamayo back to court on April 2 for a post-hearing arraignment.

Tamayo, who represented himself at the hearing, remains at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $230,000 bail, according to court records.

According to Deputy Armando Munoz, sheriff’s deputies responded at 9:30 a.m. on March 16, 2017, for a report of a theft at a business in the 79200 block of Highway 111 in La Quinta.

The theft investigation yielded a suspect vehicle description and license plate number, which matched that of a car reported stolen from Palm Springs earlier in the day, Munoz said.

About 10 minutes after sheriff’s deputies responded to the La Quinta business, the car was spotted by a sheriff’s deputy near Highway 111 and Portola Avenue in Palm Desert, leading to a pursuit on westbound Interstate 10, as well as streets in Palm Desert and Rancho Mirage, Munoz said.

Tamayo pulled over around 10 a.m. near the Date Palm Drive exit in Cathedral City and surrendered without incident.

No deputies or civilians were injured during the pursuit, Munoz said.