Man arrested after leading cops on chase through Coachella

A 21-year-old man who led deputies on a chasefollowing a fight and an outbreak of gunfire in Coachella was behind bars todayand facing possible felony evading and weapons-related charges.

Omar Mendez of Coachella was arrested around 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, saidRiverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Bishop.

Deputies responding to the 50400 block of Avenue Adobe on a report ofpeople fighting and shots fired were told the suspect fled in a silverChevrolet S-10 pickup truck, Bishop said.

A deputy on patrol spotted the vehicle as it sped away from the areaand attempted to make a traffic stop but Mendez wouldn’t pull over, prompting achase, he said.

“Deputies pursued the Chevrolet at high speeds south on Harrison Streetuntil it ran off the road at Avenue 70th and Polk Street in Mecca,” Bishopsaid.

Mendez abandoned the pickup and ran into a dense orange grove, butdeputies surrounded the area and eventually took him into custody, Bishop said.He was booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion of felonyevading and being a felon in possession of ammunition and a baton, he said.

Deputies were unable to locate a firearm after searching the pursuitroute and the area where the fight took place, Bishop said, adding that oneother person was detained, questioned and released due to insufficientevidence, Bishop said.

Mendez was jailed in lieu of $100,000 bail and was due in court onFriday in Indio, according to sheriff’s online jail records.

A sheriff’s patrol car hit a cinder block building during the chase,causing minor damage, Bishop said.