Four Coachella teens are charged with possessing loaded firearms after leading the Riverside County Sheriff's Department on a pursuit that ended in a traffic collision, according to Sgt. David Aldrich.
All four teenagers, ranging in age from 14 to 17, have been charged with resisting arrest and being minors in possession of firearms, and the driver was additionally charged with felony evading and hit-and-run collision. The four have been booked at the Juvenile Hall in Indio, Aldrich said, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department website.
It all started with a traffic stop by the Thermal Station Special Investigations Unit, which was attempted at 2:14 p.m. Wednesday after a black Nissan caught the officers' attention during a surveillance operation in the city of Coachella related to recent crimes. The Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) spotted the Nissan on Avenue 52 and Genoa Street in the city of Coachella, took note of a vehicle code violation and attempted to pull it over.
When the Nissan continued speeding down the roadway, Aldrich said, "A vehicle pursuit ensued, which continued through the city of Coachella and into the city of Indio."
The driver did not stop, Aldrich said, for a minor traffic accident that occurred at the intersection of Monroe Street and Avenue 48 in Indio during the pursuit, which did not result in any reported injuries. Still allegedly evading authorities, the Nissan then made a brief stop on Dr. Carreon Boulevard, where two people ran into an apartment complex.
The first arrest that afternoon came at the intersection of Highway 111 and Indio Boulevard where the Nissan had stopped, allowing for the arrest of the 17-year-old driver and 14-year-old passenger from Coachella. Two remaining suspects, ages 14 and 17, were captured with the help of the Indio Police Department after authorities set up a perimeter on the 82100 block of Dr. Carreon Boulevard.
Multiple firearms were discovered during the execution of search warrants on the vehicles associated with the suspects.
The Sheriff's Department is asking residents with further details related to this case to call Cpl. McTigue at the Thermal Station at 760-863-8107 or Deputy Molina with the CCAT at 760-863-8887. Alternatively, the public can contact Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 760-341-7867.