Two Menifee men arrested for vehicle crimes, other charges

Two Menifee men were arrested for possession of stolen vehicles and other charges Wednesday in related incidents, with one suspect surrendering after an hour-long police chase.

Officers with the Temecula Police Department's Special Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a residence in the 31400 block of Corderro Lane in Menifee at 11:30 a.m. as part of a vehicle theft investigation. Assisted by Menifee SET officers, they located stolen items, including a stolen motorcycle and stolen passenger vehicle.

Christopher B. Jones, 27 (right), was arrested at the scene and booked on charges of possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, restricted person in possession of an unregistered firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of a controlled substance while armed, and possession of illegal drug paraphernalia.

Information obtained during the investigation led SET officers to a location in the unincorporated area of Murrieta. They observed a stolen vehicle leaving the area and while attempting to conduct a traffic stop, the driver fled at a high rate of speed.

Officers requested assistance from the Riverside Sheriff's Aviation Unit and a helicopter maintained surveillance of the fleeing vehicle. After almost an hour, the drive pulled to the side of the road and surrendered to officers. That location was not released.

Dennis Bunn, 29, was booked on charges of evading a police officer, committing a felony while out on bail, violation of county probation, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, and reckless driving. Bunn has been arrested three times in the past six months for fleeing from police in a stolen vehicle.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Temecula Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team at 951-696-3000.