Parolee accused of accidentally firing gun while fleeing from police

The Indio Police Department arrested a suspect who authorities say led officers on a pursuit early Tuesday morning.

The incident began at around 4:30 a.m. in the area of Indio Boulevard and Smurr Street. This is where officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a blue four-door 2007 Chrysler Sebring for vehicle code violations.

The vehicle did not yield to police request and the driver attempted to evade officers. Eventually, the vehicle crashed into the southwest curb at the Civic Center Mall west of Smurr Street, according to Indio police.

Officers then approached the vehicle. They reported seeing the front passenger, later identified as Guadalupe Mario Pizarro, 27, run from the vehicle.

According to Indio police, Pizarro was in possession of a handgun that accidentally fired as he exited the vehicle.

Officers detained two female adults, the driver and a passenger from the vehicle. Pizzaro was not immediately located so a perimeter check of the area was conducted.

At approximately 5:10 a.m., officers got a report that Pizarro was hiding in the area of the 45000 block of King Street. Officers responded to the area and took him into custody without incident.

Pizarro was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for felon in possession of a firearm and negligent discharge of a firearm charges. He was later moved to the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, where he remains behind bars.

Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Indio Police Department, (760) 391-4057., or call Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP for anonymous information.