Man accused of attacking Flock camera contractor in Palm Desert expected in court today

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) A 31-year-old Palm Desert man accused of slashing a contractor's tires, damaging a city license plate reader camera and threatening to stab the worker is expected to appear in court Thursday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

News Channel 3 is not naming the suspect because he has not yet been formally charged.

As we first reported Tuesday, deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station were called to the 73000 block of Fred Waring Drive around 10:25 a.m. Monday, Aug. 24, for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators said the victim was a contractor hired by Flock Safety to replace an automated license plate reader camera for the city of Palm Desert that had previously been vandalized. While the contractor was working on the camera, the suspect approached him, slashed all four tires on his utility vehicle, damaged the newly installed camera and threatened to stab him, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies later spotted the suspect's vehicle near Palm Desert Drive and San Marcos Avenue and took him into custody without incident during a traffic stop.

A search warrant served at the man's home in the 73000 block of San Nicholas Avenue turned up evidence tied to the assault and to additional vandalism of Flock Safety cameras, according to investigators.

Deputies said they also found videos of teenage girls that investigators described as sexually intrusive, recorded in both public and private spaces. Investigators are now working to identify the people captured in those recordings.

The man was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and multiple counts of felony vandalism.

The sheriff's office warned that intentionally damaging or tampering with Flock cameras can carry felony charges.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Deputy Jake Paull at the Palm Desert Sheriff's Station at (760) 836-1600. Anyone who believes they may have been recorded by the suspect is urged to contact Investigator Katheryn Evans at the same number.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates following today's court appearance.