Two Scooters Swiped From Rancho Mirage Business, Arrests Made

RANCHO MIRAGE, CA —After two electric scooters were stolen this week from a Rancho Mirage business, two people are behind bars on Wednesday, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department says.

Christian Bailey Melendrez, 27, and Patrick Cody Pettigrew, 47, were booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of grand theft, petty theft with priors and conspiracy to commit crime, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Both suspects were held without bail.

Deputies responded at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 31 to the 40000 block of Monterey Avenue regarding a report of grand theft, according to the sheriff's department. They learned that two e-scooters were stolen from the front of the business, Sgt. Jeff Cryder said.

Surveillance footage led the authorities to identify the two suspects: Melendrez, described as a transient out of Beaumont, and Pettigrew, from Banning.

According to Cryder, Beaumont police officers found Melendrez and detained him without incident on Monday.

A search warrant was served at a residence in the 5100 block of West Hoffer Street in Banning the following day, where authorities arrested Pettigrew without incident.

Anyone with additional information about the crime was urged to contact 760-836-1600.