Suspect pleads not guilty after police pursuit through Indio
Update: Mendoza pleads not guilty to felony grand theft and evading arrest charges. He’s due back in court on August 16.
Police pursuing a stolen vehicle suspect used a spike strip on Wednesday to disable the car, then arrested him after he fled into an Indio neighborhood on foot, but a second suspect got away.
Johnny Mendoza of Indio, 25, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading a peace officer in a vehicle, and a probation violation.
The pursuit began at 2:47 p.m. when Indio police officers saw a stolen 2013 Infiniti in the area of Indio Boulevard and Clinton Street, said Indio police Cmdr. Henk Peeters. Mendoza allegedly sped off after officers attempted a traffic stop, triggering a pursuit that took police on a circuitous route through Monroe Street, Avenue 44, Jackson Street and Golf Center Parkway.
Another suspect, the car’s male passenger, exited the car and fled on foot near Hoover and Armata avenues and was not found, Peeters said.
Mendoza allegedly continued driving the Infiniti through Indio streets until at least one of the car’s tires was flattened by a spike strip and Mendoza drove the car into a storm channel near Avenue 44 and Interstate 10, east of Tourmaline Avenue, where it became stuck.
Mendoza then allegedly fled on foot into the backyard of a home in the 83600 block of Tourmaline Avenue, where he was found and arrested, Peeters said.
No officers or suspects were injured during the pursuit.
Original Article:
The Indio Police Department is searching a neighborhood near Tourmaline Avenue after a suspect led authorities on a pursuit and then ditched the vehicle after it became high-centered in the wash.
Officers believe the suspect is hiding in or near a home on Tourmaline Avenue. The neighborhood is located south of Avenue 44, and just west of I-10.
KESQ and CBS Local 2 is at the scene as officers continue to search for the suspect. We don’t have any details about the suspect at this time. The suspect’s truck was abandoned after the vehicle became high-centered in the wash. That’s when the suspect ran into the neighborhood.
We’re talking to officers at the scene and we’ll bring you more information as soon as we have it.
