A Palm Desert man was arrested in Morongo Valley after he led deputies on a pursuit Tuesday morning. About 10:45 a.m., a deputy attempted to make a traffic stop near Highway 62 and Mountain View Trail in Morongo Valley on a blue Jeep Cherokee after determining the Cherokee’s license plate belonged to a different vehicle. The driver, Charles Kirkpatrick, 31, refused to stop and drove toward Desert Hot Springs. The pursuing deputy, who recognized Kirkpatrick, said Kirkpatrick drove with no regard for public safety. The pursuit ended when Kirkpatrick drove into the open desert south of Indian Trail near the Mission Lakes neighborhood of Desert Hot Springs. About 20 minutes later, deputies located Kirkpatrick when he emerged from the desert area on foot. A Sheriff’s helicopter located the Jeep on its roof in the desert. A records check revealed that the Jeep Cherokee had been stolen out of Thousand Palms on May 12. Riverside County CHP officers are conducting the stolen vehicle investigation.
Kirkpatrick had been arrested January 24 with a different stolen vehicle. Due to the emergency bail schedule, Kirkpatrick had been released from jail April 17.
Charles Kirkpatrick was arrested for investigation of felony failure to yield, possession of a stolen vehicle, and committing an offense while on bail. He was booked into the West Valley Detention Center, with his bail set at $150,000.
