Men Suspected in vehicle burglaries, vandalism in Rancho Mirage plead not guilty
Two men suspected of burglarizing and vandalizing several vehicles in Rancho Mirage, with stolen property and damages exceeding $25,000, pleaded not guilty to felony charges today.
Osman Uriel Arellano, 27, of Coachella, and Manuel Victor Guerra, 36, of Indio, were charged Monday with four felony counts of receiving stolen property, two felony counts of burglary, and one felony count each of vandalism and being a convicted felon and narcotic addict in possession of a firearm, according to court records. They also face two misdemeanor counts of tampering with a vehicle.
Arellano was additionally charged with one felony count each of evading arrest and carrying a concealed weapon, while Guerra faces an additional felony count of receiving stolen property, according to court records.
Arellano pleaded not guilty to the charges Tuesday morning at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, while Guerra pleaded not guilty in the afternoon.
The Rancho Mirage Special Enforcement Team (SET) investigated the vehicle burglaries and acts of vandalism throughout August and subsequently identified Guerra and Arellano as the suspects in various incidents, according to Sgt. Jeff Cryder of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
They were both found Thursday at a residence in the 78000 block of Savanna La Mar Drive near Bermuda Dunes by members of the Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Palm Desert SET teams, along with Burglary Suppression Unit members, according to Cryder.
Deputies searched the residence and allegedly found numerous stolen items and a firearm.
"Palm Desert Station personnel arrested Guerra at the location,'' Cryder said in a statement. ``Arellano was arrested a short time later following a vehicle pursuit that ended near Fred Waring Drive and Silverwood Drive in the city of Indio."
Arellano was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio and Guerra into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, according to court records. They both remain behind bars on $250,000 bail.
Anyone with information on the burglaries and the vandalism was asked to call Deputy Paull with the Palm Desert sheriff's station at 760-578-4275.
