Suspect in Calimesa Carjacking ID'd as Ronnie J. Paez

Photo courtesy of the Riverside Sheriff’s Department

By City News Service

Investigators on Thursday named a suspect who allegedly carjacked a silver 2001 four-door Hyundai XG at gunpoint and kidnapped its driver from a Calimesa gas station on Sunday, and are seeking the public’s help in finding him.

Ronnie J. Paez, 33, is the man pictured in surveillance photographs released by sheriff’s officials on Wednesday, Sgt. Daniel Hernandez said.

The carjacking and kidnapping occurred at the Shell station at 1213 Calimesa Blvd., where authorities say Paez got into the victim’s car and asked for a ride. He then pulled out a sawed-off shotgun from the rear of his trousers and pointed it at the victim, Hernandez said.

The victim persuaded the suspect to drive to Hemet, where the victim got out of the car and called police.

Paez is described as a white or Hispanic man, 5 feet 6 and 145 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, shaved eyebrows; tattoos on his face, neck and hands, including an “NC” tattoo on his right cheek; block lettering on his eyebrows, and a tattoo on the left hand, possibly starting with the number “21.” He also has a tattoo on the right hand possibly starting with “18,” and three dots on his face.

Anyone with information on Paez’s whereabouts is urged to call the sheriff’s Cabazon station at (951) 922-7100, or the sheriff’s dispatch center at (800) 950-2444.