Indio father worried about homelessness after daughter steps on needle at local park

An Indio father is raising concerns about homelessness in his community, after his young daughter stepped on a drug needle while attending the city's Second Saturdays event on Miles Avenue and Smurr Street back on July 9.

News Channel 3 obtained cellphone video from David Villareal that shows him holding a diaper and walking towards a police vehicle down the street.

He said he used one of his daughter's diapers to grab the syringe and then turned it over to a nearby officer.

“Right when we got off the car my daughter stepped on a syringe. Luckily she was wearing her sandals because it got stuck under her shoe,” explained Villareal as he recalled the incident.

It got the attention of city leadership. 

“The mayor he reached out. He saw my video because I posted it and he reached out to me," said Villareal.

Indio Mayor Waymond Fermon addressed what he believes are the root causes behind the incident.

“It’s a controlled substance issue, a housing-reluctant issue, and an unsheltered folks issue,” said Fermon. 

He said more will be done to keep the community safe, but is glad to hear Villareal's daughter wasn't injured during the incident.

“It motivated me to clean up because my kid’s kids are going to be the ones that are going to be here,” said Villareal.