Two Banning brothers, who are believed to be members of the Southside Beaumont street gang, have been arrested and are being held on suspicion of multiple felonies, including carjacking.

James Lara, 43 and David Lara, 47, of Banning were taken into custody three days apart, June 3 and June 6, respectively, following a carjacking incident that occurred on May 30 at 10:11 a.m. in the 50000 block of Ramona Road in Cabazon.

Riverside County Sheriff Captain Ross Koepp said during the incident two men approached a man as he sat in his vehicle, brandished a knife and threatened to shoot him if he did not give up his vehicle.

“In fear for his safety, the victim complied,” Koepp said.

During the initial investigation, sheriff’s investigators learned that the suspects may be members of a local criminal street gang and asked for assistance from the San Gorgonio Special Operation Gang Task Force.

On June 3, task force members were able to identify the brothers as the suspects in the carjacking.

That same day, task force members set up suveillance at a home in the 400 block of North 40th Street in Banning and saw James Lara drive away from the residence. A traffic stop was made on Seminole Road in Cabazon and James Lara was taken into custody without incident, Koepp said. Koepp said several items of property that were in the carjack victim’s vehicle at the time of the incident were located in the truck Lara was driving.

James Lara was subsequently arrested for multiple felony charges related to carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and gang enhancement. He is currently being held at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 bail.

Based on information obtained during the arrest, task force members obtained a search warrant for a home in the 500 block of Wesley Street in Banning. A search of the residence led to the discovery of the vehicle taken during the carjacking, along with two grams of heroin packaged for sale. The stolen vehicle was returned to the victim, Koepp said.

As a result of the search, Haley Garcia, 22, of Banning, was subsequently arrested on felony charges related to possession of heroin for sales and possession of heroin. She is being held at the Robert Presley Dentention Center in Riverside in lieu of $25,000 bail, jail records state. Also arrested at the residence was Daniel Gonzales, 34, of Banning, for multiple misdemeanor and felony warrants totling $550,000. Jail records do not currently show that Garcia is still in custody.

On June 6, task force memebers were informed that David Lara would be appearing in a Riverside court on a unrelated matter.

“SGSOGTF members responded to the Hall of Justice in Riverside where they located David Lara and took him into custody withou incident,” Koepp said.

David Lara was arrested for multiple felony charges related to carjacking, conspiracy to commit carjacking, committing a felony while out on bail, terrorist threats and gang enhancement.

He is currently being held at Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail, jail records show.

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