Police seeking man for anti-Trump violence in Palm Springs

The Palm Springs Police Department is searching for a man accused of pulling out a knife at another person Monday morning. According to police, the incident happened in downtown Palm Springs on Indian Canyon Drive near Bill’s Pizza after the man smashed a car window and wrote anti-Trump wording into the hood of the vehicle.

Sgt. William Hutchinson said the man was described as a white male in his 50s, with an average build and short gray hair. He was wearing no shirt and dark shorts. Hutchinson said the victim pulled out a bluish pepper spray when the man pulled out the knife and sprayed him before fleeing southbound on Indian Canyon Drive on a red bicycle.

” The suspect has a teal or turquoise color pepper spray on his face and he fled the location,” he said.

Hutchinson said the city had been relatively calm since the election with only two incidents happening with the knife pulling incident being the most serious.

Elle Kurpiewski, office manager for the Democratic Headquarters of the Desert, said local Democrats denounced the act of violence as it came just days after peaceful anti-Trump protests in the city over the weekend. She had participated in those protests herself.

” This is not what democracy is about,” she said. “This was unfortunate. We certainly in no way condone such conduct.”

Kurpiewski said there was better ways to voice opposition to Trump but violence was not the way to go.

” You’re not making your point when you do that,” she said. “What you’re doing is perpetuating a violent mode that we do not need. We need to stand back and we need to roll up our sleeves again and go to work.”

Hutchinson said the department recognized the right to protest but warned the rule of law still would be enforced.

” Everybody has a right to protest,” he said. “Everybody has a right to make comments. We just have to make sure that you stay within the confines of the law, and if you break that law that’s when we get involved and we will certainly respond appropriately to those crimes.”

Palm Springs police is asking anyone who may see a man matching the description of the suspect to not approach him as it is believed that he is armed and dangerous. They are encouraged to call 911 to give information on the whereabouts of the suspect.