Indio police chase briefly locked down middle school Friday morning

Three men who fled police following a routine traffic stop were in custody Friday after leading police on a short pursuit through an Indio residential neighborhood that briefly locked down Indio Middle School.

The chase began around 10:30 a.m. near Palmwood Drive, Sgt. Daniel Marshall said.

Officers saw a car without license plates and attempted a traffic stop, but the car took off. Police pursued the car but when the chase reached high speeds, officers abandoned the pursuit for safety reasons.

However, the car was found stopped elsewhere not long after the pursuit, with two men standing outside it. Officers detained the two men, but another man in the car drove away, triggering a second pursuit. This chase brought the action to close proximity with Indio Middle
School, prompting a brief lockdown.

The pursuit ended near the area of Palmwood Drive and Miles Avenue, and the driver was arrested without incident.

Marshall said it was unknown what charges the men might face, but said it was believed that the driver might have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

No one was injured.

News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 will bring you more information when we hear back from authorities.