Police Sweep Underway In City Of Coachella

Fifteen people were arrested today in a Coachella crime sweep, a sheriff’s lieutenant said.

Local law enforcement officials launched an “Operation Safe Coachella” sweep at 7 a.m. and arrested 12 men, one woman and two male minors who had warrants for various violations, sheriff’s Lt. Matt Martello said.

Alleged offenses included possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia, burglary, possession of stolen property, being under the influence of a controlled substance and negligently discharging a firearm, Martello said.

Authorities did probation and parole compliance checks and served arrest and search warrants at more than 50 locations in Coachella, he said.

The Coachella Police Department, which is staffed by the Riverside County Sheriff’s department, led the sweep, and more than 45 Coachella-based sheriff’s officials and members of Coachella Valley special enforcement teams participated, he said.

Such sweeps are periodically conducted, Deputy Angel Ramos said, the last one being several months ago.