Man accused of brandishing gun, assaulting officer in Palm Desert

A Palm Desert man was arrested after allegedly brandishing a gun and assaulting an officer Friday evening.

According to a release provided by the Palm Desert Police Department, at approximately 5:16 P.M., officers responded to a business located in the 73-500 block of Highway 111 following a call about a man armed with a firearm. A business owner reported that the suspect was armed and had confronted him just outside the rear of the business. The owner was able to get away and call 911.

Officers arrived and searched for the suspect who fled the location prior to their arrival. Several minutes later, a subject matching the description was located in the area of San Pablo Avenue and San Gorgonio Avenue. As officers said that as they approached the subject, he ran toward Las Palmas Avenue and brandished the firearm from his pants and then discarded it a short distance later.

Officers determined the suspect went into an apartment in the 44-800 block of Las Palmas Avenue. As officers made contact at the location, the suspect reportedly opened the door and an altercation ensued. The suspect and an officer sustained minor injuries as a result.

The suspect, identified as 21-year-old Jose Banda, of Palm Desert, was eventually detained.

Evidence was located at the location linking Banda to a robbery in the 73-500 block of Highway 111. The firearm was recovered and it was determined it was a pellet gun which replicated a rifle. Banda received an okay-to-book at a local hospital and was booked into the Riverside County jail located in the city of Indio for Robbery, Assault With a Deadly Weapon, and Assaulting an Executive Officer.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Palm Desert Police Department at 760-836-1600.