PALM DESERT – A man who reportedly carjacked a dump truck was identified and arrested on Tuesday.
Palm Desert Police were alerted to a carjacking on Tuesday, May 26 at about 10:40 AM. The victim reported that he was sitting in his truck on the 36-900 block of Cook Street in Palm Desert when a man opened the passenger side of the vehicle and threatened him. The suspect brandished a knife at the driver, who then escaped without injury. The suspect was last seen traveling south on Cook Street in what was reported as a white, 2000 Ford stake bed dump truck (CA#8T74880) with white wood paneling, double rear swing doors and a “Desert Concepts” logo on the cab doors.
The victim described the thief as a Hispanic male adult, about 30 years old, 5’06” tall, about 145 lbs., light complexion, with visible tattoos of an “I” on the left calf and an “E” on the right. The suspect was wearing only black and white checkered shorts and carrying a white towel.
Palm Desert Police were on the lookout for the suspect when they received a report around 2:50 PM of a man matching the description of the carjacker. Officers arrived at the scene and identified the suspect, who then attempted to flee. Officers were able to detain him immediately. Authorities continued with the investigation of the crime and were able to find and recover the Ford work truck. The search also revealed evidence of additional crimes which included the burglary of a local area hotel room.
The suspect, identified as Gary Ryan, age 27 of Thousand Palms, was arrested and was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on felony charges of carjacking, burglary and possession of stolen property.
