San Jacinto man arrested for auto theft in Menifee

A San Jacinto man faces multiple felony charges after being arrested in connection with an auto theft in Menifee, police said.

Lenny Lara, 35, faces charges including auto theft, evading an officer, possessing a firearm and second-degree burglary. He had three felony warrants at the time of his arrest. Lara is in custody at Murrieta Southwest Detention Center with bail set at $100,000. He has a court date Tuesday in Murrieta.

According to a Menifee Police Department news release, officers responded on Friday to the report of a vehicle theft at Heritage Lake Park. An officer located the stolen vehicle near McCall Boulevard and the 215 Freeway and attempted a vehicle stop, but the suspect failed to yield. Officers pursued the vehicle north on the freeway and then east on Highway 74.

A Riverside County Sheriff’s aviation unit tracked the vehicle into the city of Hemet. At that point, the suspect fled on foot. With guidance from the Star-9 air unit, officers located the suspect and safety took him into custody.