A man arrested by a Palm Springs Police Department K9 officer during a recent traffic stop was found to be a person of interest in a string of burglaries and grand theft auto cases in the city's south end. Palm Springs Police identified the suspect as 27-year-old Jose Angel Romero Perez in a news release.
"The suspect had been identified as a person of interest in a series of burglaries and grand theft auto cases impacting the south end of the city, over the past few months," PSPD said in a news release. "Affected streets include Pebble Beach Drive, Paseo De La Palma, Cherry Hills Drive, Calle Loreto and Calle Palo Fiero."
According to PSPD, a K9 officer was on patrol along the 6500 block of Dinah Shore Drive when they conducted the traffic stop just before midnight on June 26. A search of the vehicle revealed a semi-automatic handgun, ammunition and tools, the latter of a nature that might be useful in a burglary. The Facebook page from Palm Springs Police Department shows tools including an axe and crowbar as well as the gun, ammo and a necklace.
Police took Perez into custody due to several outstanding warrants, including four felonies and one misdemeanor. Authorities report he also faces multiple firearm charges. Perez was lodged at the Riverside County Jail in Indio without incident.
On the Facebook page that PSPD used to report the arrest, several residents commended the department for their wonderful work. One writer noted that the officer acted at close to midnight, showing their efforts to keep the city safe at all hours. Another expressed their view that motor vehicle stops are an important law-enforcement tool that should not be eliminated.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact PSPD Investigations Division at 760-323-8121. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be provided through Crime Stoppers at 760-347-7867.