6 'Smash And Grab' Robbery Suspects Arrested For Cross-County Sprees

PALM DESERT, CA — Six people have been arrested in connection with a string of "smash and grab" jewelry store burglaries in Palm Desert and across multiple counties, authorities announced Wednesday.

On Aug. 9, deputies responded around 2:15 p.m. to a jewelry store in the 72800 block of Highway 111 in Palm Desert after a reported robbery, sheriff’s Sgt. James Mills said.

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Several witnesses told investigators that four masked individuals entered the store with hammers, smashed display cases and stole more than $87,000 worth of merchandise before fleeing the area, according to Mills.

Detectives later determined the Palm Desert theft was connected to more than 10 “smash-and-grab” jewelry store robberies reported since May in Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

The suspects were booked into the Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of robbery, vandalism, grand theft, burglary, committing a theft with prior convictions and conspiracy, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspects were identified as:

• Ryan Hawes, a 35-year-old resident of Los Angeles.
• J’Quan Brasher, a 27-year-old resident of Lancaster.
• Khalil Tanner, a 24-year-old resident of Rosamond.
• Keyon Hampton, a 20-year-old resident of Lancaster.
• Jamail Wilson, a 24-year-old resident of Los Angeles.
• George Diamond, a 41-year-old resident of Lancaster.

Following a multi-agency operation, authorities arrested Tanner and Brasher without incident in Lancaster on Sept. 11. Hampton was taken into custody in Lancaster on Sept. 16. Wilson was arrested Sept. 18 in Los Angeles, and Diamond was arrested in Lancaster on Tuesday, Mills said.

Hawes was taken into federal custody on an unrelated matter.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information was urged to call 760-836-1600.

Patch staffer Kat Schuster contributed to this report.