A Modesto man was arrested over the weekend after police say he carjacked a vehicle in Palm Springs and later leading authorities on a high-speed chase from Hemet to Desert Hot Springs.

Officers from the Palm Springs Police Department responded to a call regarding a carjacking in a parking lot in the 400 block of South Sunrise Way a little before 5 pm on Saturday. Deputies were told that the victim was sitting in the passenger seat of the idling vehicle waiting for the driver to return when the suspect gained entry through the unlocked door and demanded the victim get out of the car or she would be shot.

Fearing for her life, the victim tried to yell for help while grabbing her purse but ended up being pushed down to the pavement. The suspect then drove away in the stolen vehicle.

Detectives were able to track the suspect, Michael Mitchell, back to the city of Hemet and with the assistance of the Riverside County Gang Task Force-Region 3, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and Hemet Police Department located the suspect who led the agencies on a high-speed pursuit to the City of Desert Hot Springs.

A high-risk stop was initiated and the Mitchell, 29, was taken into custody on multiple charges including carjacking, robbery, elder abuse, evading a police officer, vehicle theft, and possession of stolen property.