Banning Police Arrest Felon Who Was Being Sought In San Diego County

BANNING, CA — A felon with a long criminal history in Riverside County, and who had an active felony warrant out of San Diego County, was in custody following his arrest last weekend in Banning, the Banning Police Department announced Friday.

Austin Wade Alesi, 30, of Calimesa was arrested by Banning police around 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 21, after someone reported that he was trying to siphon fuel from work trucks in the area of W. Wilson Street and Creekside Avenue, in Banning's Atwell community.

According to Banning police, Alesi was siphoning diesel fuel from a construction vehicle, was trying to steal a vehicle battery, and had stolen several tools. In an attempt to avoid arrest, Alesi told officers he was a construction worker, which was not true, according to police.

During a check on Alesi, the Banning officers discovered the outstanding warrant out of San Diego County for vehicle theft and fraud-related charges, police reported.

Alesi was arrested and booked into Murrieta's Southwest Detention Center before being transported and booked into San Diego Central Jail. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning in San Diego on felony charges of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, identity theft, theft by false pretenses, and possessing a fake ID, jail records show.

Alesi is also expected to face charges in Riverside County stemming from his Banning arrest.

According to court records, Alesi has unresolved charges in Riverside County stemming from different violation dates, including intimidating a business, drug charges, grand theft, and possessing drugs/alcohol in jail.

He has been previously convicted in Riverside County on charges of violating his parole, robbery, using a weapon in the commission of a crime, using tear gas against someone other than himself, and battery, court records show.