Palm Springs man arrested after four-mile pursuit

A failed license plate light led to a four-mile carchase by Palm Springs police, who had recognized their suspect for havingbeen arrested recently for driving with a concealed sawed-off shotgun, asergeant said today.

Officers spotted John Duran, 34, driving his Toyota 4-Runner at 10:20p.m. Saturday without a working license plate lamp. They tried pulling him overaround the Spa Casino in the 400 block of East Andreas Road.

Officers recognized Duran as the person authorities arrested July 28 forhiding the weapon under his driver’s seat during a traffic stop, Palm Springspolice Sgt. William Hutchinson said.

Instead of stopping, Duran allegedly sped off and led police officers ina pursuit that lasted seven minutes. Duran allegedly blew through a number ofstop signs and red lights before driving off Vista Chino and into the desertwhere he later got stuck in the sand, Hutchinson said.

Duran was arrested and officers released his female passenger with nopending charges. Duran was booked for suspicion of felony evading andcommitting a felony while on bail, Hutchinson said.