San Jacinto, CA - Palm Springs' Police Detective's Car Stolen - Police Badge, Gun Stolen
SAN JACINTO - A man who police say was impersonating a police officer with
a badge and gun that were stolen from a Palm Springs police detective's car,
left idling in a Beaumont driveway, is scheduled to be arraigned Monday.
Michael Allen Hardin, 28, of San Jacinto, was arrested on suspicion of
possession of stolen property and an outstanding warrant. Hardin was booked into
the Southwest Detention Center, San Jacinto police Sgt. John Salisbury said.
Investigators believe that just before 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, Hardin came upon the
detective's Beaumont home, said Lt. John Acosta of the Beaumont Police
Department.
"She comes out and the car's gone," Acosta said.
A California Highway Patrol officer recovered the car about 30 minutes later
at a business near the corner of 6th Street and Viele Avenue, Acosta said.
Stereo speakers, compact discs, a cell phone and a camera were stolen --
along with the detective's badge and handgun, Acosta said.
"He saw an opportunity and dumped the car right away," Acosta said of the
suspect. "He took what he could and left."
Thursday afternoon, police responded to the 300 block of South State Street
after receiving a call that a man was impersonating a police officer, Salisbury
said.
"He (Hardin) was telling people he had a badge and a gun," San Jacinto police
Sgt. Mike Yates said.
When officers found Hardin next to a white pickup, he ran and barricaded himself
inside an apartment where he lived with his girlfriend, Salisbury said.
About two hours later, Hardin attempted to escape through a vent in the attic
and was arrested, Salisbury said. Hardin was suffering from heat exhaustion and
was treated at Hemet Valley Medical Center and released.
Inside Hardin's apartment, officers found the stolen police badge, false
identification cards and other items officers believe may be stolen, Salisbury
said.
Hardin's girlfriend, a 31-year-old San Jacinto resident, was also arrested on an
outstanding warrant for possession of stolen property, Salisbury said.
The gun had not been recovered by late Friday, Yates said.
Palm Springs police Lt. Dennis Graham declined to release the name of the
detective.