Palm Desert Man Arrested Hours After Attempted Carjacking

PALM DESERT, CA - Deputies arrested a Palm Desert man early Wednesday morning hours after he tried to carjack a person in a residential Palm Desert neighborhood, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Linnel Wilson, 19, was arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking, strongarm robbery, willful cruelty to a child, and making criminal threats, according to jail records.

Tuesday night, authorities responded to a 911 call on the 77000 block of Michigan Drive where the victim was attacked, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Travis Mountz. Ultimately, Wilson was identified as the suspect.

At 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, Deputies served a warrant and searched Wilson’s home on Country Club Drive. Inside, they found stolen property belonging to the victim, according to Mountz.

Investigators are seeking more information about the incident on Michigan Drive, and ask anyone with information to call the Palm Desert Station at 760-836-1600.

Wilson is being held at the John Benoit Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Friday at 8 a.m.