Police: Car Thieves Flee from Morongo Casino, Crash Into Ravine

Two men were locked up Tuesday in the Banning jail after police say they tried to flee the Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in a stolen car, police said.

The two were arrested on Sunday, when deputies spotted the vehicle in the parking structure at the casino, according to Riverside County Sheriff's Sergeant Don Fortney.

While trying to figure out who was driving the stolen car-- deputies caught a lucky break.

"While reviewing surveillance footage to determine who drove the vehicle, three adult subjects exited the casino and entered the vehicle," Fortney said.

Deputies tried to pull the vehicle over, but the driver sped away-- hitting another car in the process-- but continuing to drive.

"The suspects refused commands provided by the deputies and fled out of the parking garage at a high rate of speed," Fortney said.

The car kept heading west from the casino towards Banning, but stopped after about 200 yards, when "the driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a small ravine," according to Fortney.

That's when two men, identified as Highland residents Alexander Sicairos and Kristopher Oliveira, ran away from the car.  However, they were caught by deputies and arrested a short time later, according to Fortney.

Another passenger, 20-year-old Brittney Patterson of Highland, stayed with the crashed car and was also arrested at the scene.

None of the three were hurt in the crash, and all of them were taken to the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to jail records, the two men remained locked up on burglary and evading police charges as of Tuesday afternoon.  Sicairos' bail was set at $125,000 and Oliveira's was set at $100,000.

The woman, Patterson, was released on $25,000 bail Monday.  She was only booked on drug charges, records indicated.