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Date Posted / Updated: Home Press Release Index
RIVERSIDE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
Sheriff Stanley Sniff
City of Rancho Mirage Police Department
PRESS RELEASE
Date/Time Written: January 21, 2010/ 4:00 PM Type of Incident: Carjacking Date/Time of Incident: January 21, 2010/1:30 AM Location(s) of Incident: Ramon and Los Alamos, Rancho Mirage Reporting Officer: Sgt. David Florez File Number: S10021001
Benito Franz, 43 Details:
On January 21, 2010 at 1:30 A.M., officers from the Rancho Mirage Police Department responded to the area of Ramon Rd. and Los Alamos regarding a carjacking that had just occurred. The crime occurred minutes after a local taxi service picked up the suspect at the Agua Caliente Casino after he was ejected from the casino for his intoxication. Shortly after the taxi service picked up the suspect, he physically assaulted and overpowered the taxi driver and stole his cab. The taxi driver sustained minor cuts and abrasions from the altercation.
The investigation led officers to the 67000 block of Santa Barbara Road, Cathedral City, where the suspect was positively identified. The stolen taxi cab was located a short distance away. The suspect was identified as Benito Franz, a 43-year-old resident of Cathedral City. Franz was arrested and booked into the Indio Jail for 215 P.C.-Carjacking, on $150,000.00 bail.
Riverside County Sheriff’s Investigations Bureau and members of the Riverside County Special Investigations Bureau served a search warrant on the residence after locating an indoor marijuana grow. Approximately 208 suspected marijuana plants in various stages of maturity were seized. The marijuana has an estimated street value of $200,000.00. Franz was additionally charged with cultivating marijuana.
The Rancho Mirage Police Department is asking that anyone with information regarding this incident contact the Rancho Mirage Police Station at (760) 836-1600. Information may also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP.
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