Man carjacks USPS mail vehicle after failing to carjack elderly man
COACHELLA – A Coachella resident attempted to carjack an elderly male in the 52400 block of Morgan Street in Coachella Wednesday, August 24. The suspect then carjacked a mail carrier’s vehicle after a USPS mail carrier intervened on the older man’s behalf.
Deputies eventually located and apprehended Hernan Ortega, 32, of Coachella. He was later booked into the Larson Correctional Facility in Indio.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Coachella Police Station responded to an unknown trouble call at about 1 p.m., according to Riverside Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Deputy Armando Muñoz.
An investigation revealed Ortega first threatened an elderly male with a metal pipe and attempted to carjack the victim, who was in the front yard of his residence.
A nearby US Mail carrier stopped to help the victim and intervened on the man’s behalf. Ortega then carjacked the mail carriers’ US Postal truck and fled northbound on Avenue 52.
Neither the mail carrier nor the elderly victim were injured during the incident.
Hernan Ortega was arrested after carjacking a USPS mail carrier’s vehicle in Coachella.
A Coachella deputy quickly arrived and apprehended Ortega, who was walking in the area of Tripoli Way near Avenue 52 after he abandoned the postal vehicle.
Following an investigation, the deputy arrested Ortega and transported him to the Riverside County Larson Jail in the city of Indio.
A jail record search revealed Ortega was booked into jail on suspicion of carjacking, assault with a deadly weapon, assaulting an elderly person, and two additional outstanding arrest warrants for vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, providing false information to a peace officer.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Deputy Damian Ruiz at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at (760) 863-8990, or they can call Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number Y162370047 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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