Two men have been taken into custody following a string of violent incidents in the Palm Desert area that included an armed robbery and a carjacking, authorities said Wednesday. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department reported that the crimes occurred late Monday night when deputies responded to a robbery call in Rancho Mirage, where victims were assaulted and robbed at gunpoint. Following that incident, the deputies were called to a carjacking in Palm Desert. The suspects, armed with firearms, made away with the victim's vehicle after an assault. The link between these two incidents was established based on the suspects' descriptions and the vehicle involved.
In both incidents, the victims suffered assaults with one sustaining minor injuries, but were spared more serious harm. The armed robbery took place in the 71000 block of Highway 111, and the following carjacking happened in the 73000 block of Santa Rosa Way. In a dramatic turn, the victim's cell phone, left in the stolen vehicle, became a beacon for law enforcement to track. Deputies traced the phone to an address on Angela Court in Indio, only for the suspects' vehicle to speed away, initiating a chase. The pursuit culminated at the intersection of Colby Way and Monroe Street with the driver fleeing on foot and vanishing into the night.
Continued investigative efforts led deputies to a residence in the 45000 block of Bradley Way, where the suspect vehicle was found and two occupants were taken into custody. A search of the premises yielded an unregistered assault rifle, two handguns with high-capacity magazines, and items belonging to the victims. As per a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Vincent Caballero, 20, and David Bustos, 25, face multiple charges including carjacking, robbery, and weapons violations.
Caballero, the younger of the two suspects, is charged with carjacking, robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon. His alleged accomplice, Bustos, has prior convictions making it illegal for him to possess firearms and ammunition. Following the arrests, both were booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio. With the suspects now facing the judicial system, authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to step forward and assist in the ongoing investigation. Those who can offer further insights are urged to reach out to Investigator Hickok at 760–836–1600, with the hope that justice may be thoroughly served.
