Official: La Quinta park cameras operational, robbery not captured due to darkness
According to a La Quinta city official, images or videos of two suspects from a recent robbery were not captured because the lights were off in La Quinta park at that time, not because the cameras were non-operational.
Tuesday night, 22-year-old Garrett Harker was assaulted and robbed by two suspects while walking through La Quinta Park.
According to Harker’s father, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said the park’s cameras were not functional, contradicting a statement issued by La Quinta Marketing and Communications Director Marcie Graham:
“Two nights ago there was a young man who, unfortunately,y was robbed at gunpoint at La Quinta Park. It has been stated to the public that the cameras at the park were not turned on. All La Quinta Parks close at 10 p.m. which means that field lights are shut off except for safety lighting which are in the parking lots and the parameters of the park.,”
The cameras at La Quinta Park on the night of the robbery were operational, however, they were unable to identify the suspects of the robbery due to the dark lighting conditions. The City is moving forward into purchasing new cameras that have night vision technology so that if there is a crime, it can be captured on the cameras. The City takes public safety as a top priority and this situation is no exception. We are working with La Quinta Police to ensure all precautions are being taken to keep our community safe. ”
The suspects are described as two young males in their late teens or early dressed in dark clothing. Harker handed over all possessions he had on him at the time, including his car key and cell phone.
“I was considering running away but they had a gun on me and were pointing it at me
from about four feet away,” Harker told News Channel 3’s Sarah Trott Wednesday.
The investigation is active. Anyone with information is urged to contact 760-863-8990.
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