Coachella man arrested for assaulting officer

A suspected DUI driver was in custody Monday morning accused of driving under the influence, providing a false name to a police officer and assaulting an officer.

The Riverside County Sheriffs Department says Coachella Police officers arrested Gerardo Fernandez, 36 years old of Coachella Sunday evening.

The Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck Fernandez was driving had reportedly struck the rear of another vehicle at the intersection of Harrison Street and Avenue 50 at 7:39 p.m.

Officers detained Fernandez when they say he gave them a false name and struck an officer.

He was arrested for driving while under the influence of alcohol, providing false information to a peace officer, felony battery of a peace officer, felon in possession of ammunition, violation of probation, and an active felony warrant for possession of stolen property.

The officer was not injured.

Fernandez was taken to a local hospital as a precaution then booked into the Riverside County Jail in Indio.