RANCHO MIRAGE: Indio couple arrested after Rancho Mirage burglary, robbery

RANCHO MIRAGE — Authorities arrested a man and woman accused of robbing a business, Wednesday, Aug. 30. The investigation and arrest followed a commercial robbery that occurred at a business located in the 34-200 block of Monterey Avenue, just south in Rancho Mirage, according to sheriff’s officials.

After an investigation, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Palm Desert Station’s Burglary Suppression Unit identified two alleged suspects, identified as Paige Groves, 27, and Dominic Michael Battiato, 33. Both are residents of Indio, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Robert Garcia explained in a written press release after the investigation and arrest.

Dominic Battiato and Paige Groves were arrested in Indio after a Rancho Mirage burglary/robbery investigation. Both were booked on multiple felony charges.

The investigation began after Groves and Battiato allegedly “entered the business, took merchandise without paying, and assaulted an employee prior to leaving the location with the stolen merchandise,” Garcia explained.

After the victims reported the robbery and deputies conducted their initial investigation, BSU members were summoned to assume the investigation. During their investigation, “deputies were able to identify  as suspects involved in the robbery,” said Garcia.

Through investigative means, officials identified  Groves and Battiato as the alleged suspects in the robbery.

After identifying Groves and Battiato, BSU members tracked them to the Jackson Street residence where they later served the robbery-related search warrant, during which deputies “located stolen property related to robbery at the location,” said Garcia.

After serving the search warrant at Battiato’s residence in the Indian Waters RV Resort and Cottages on Jackson Street, BSU members arrested Battiato. Jail records indicated he was arrested at 9 p.m.

Authorities located and arrested Groves, about two and one half hours later, on Madison Street near Highway 111. She was arrested at 11:30 p.m.

An online jail records search revealed both suspects were booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on suspicion of burglary.

Additionally, Battiato was charged with robbery, vehicle theft, and recklessly evading arrest; however, it was not immediately known if the vehicle theft and pursuit charges were related to an outstanding warrant or the current investigation.

A message left with the sheriff’s department for verification of the correct spelling of Battiato’s name and for clarification of Battiato’s charges had not been answered as of this report.

In addition to the burglary charge, Groves was also charged with committing a felony while out of jail on bail or early release, conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of stolen property.

Both Groves and Battiato remain in custody; Groves held on $30,000 bail and Battiato on $100,000 bail and both are scheduled to be arraigned at the Indio Larsen Justice Center Sept. 6.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Palm Desert Burglary Suppression Unit Deputy Letterly at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1689. Callers can refer to incident file number S172420032 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Writer’s note: The male suspect arrested in this incident was listed with two variations of his last name, Battiato and Battiano. I have not yet been able to obtain confirmation on the correct spelling of the man’s last name; however, I am expecting a response back from the arresting agency. I will then update/correct the name if necessary. For the purpose of this report, I used the name provided by the arresting agency. There are also questions regarding the male suspect’s charges, which I am also waiting for official clarification regarding. -TM

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.