Authorities Make Massive Parolee Sweep Through Coachella

COACHELLA- Nine suspected parole violators, mainly violent offenders or gang members, were arrested today in a citywide raid in Coachella, authorities said.

Operation Safe Coachella, which was led by Coachella police and parole officers from the California Department of Corrections, began around 2:30 p.m. at Bagdauma Park and is expected to continue into the evening.

About 40 local and state law enforcement officers conducted a series of parole compliance checks, served search warrants and made arrests throughout the day, said Frank Taylor, assistant chief of police.

Indio police, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies, Cathedral City police, Palm Springs police, La Quinta police and officers from other CoachellaValley agencies also participated in the sweep.

Taylor compared the raid to Operation Falling Sun, where 700 officers from multiple state, federal and local agencies arrested more than 120 people in Desert Hot Springs in March.

Today’s sweep is part of an ongoing aggressive effort against violent crime in Coachella and to reduce “the fear of crime, reducing the calls for service and increasing the quality of life,” Taylor said.

Those arrested will be returned to prison or sent to the Indio Jail, Taylor said.