Indio Police officer released from hospital after being struck near Coachella festival
An Indio police officer who was struck by a fleeing suspect vehicle near the site of the Coachella Music & Arts Festival has been discharged from a hospital.
It happened at 10:46 Saturday night at Calle Conejo and Avenue 48 when the officer attempted to stop the driver for not following traffic controls put in place for the festival.
The officer was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Indio police chased the suspect vehicle westbound on Avenue 48 and then northbound on Jefferson Street. When the suspect merged onto westbound Interstate 10, the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit.
Information about the suspect is not released yet.
Here are Indio Police Department's arrest and citation numbers for the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival - Weekend 1:
INDIO (CNS) - The return of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival after a two-year hiatus also came with an increase in arrest numbers during the first weekend of the event, authorities said today.
According to statistics released by the Indio Police Department, there was a 13% increase in arrests and a 41% increase in citations compared to the first weekend of 2019's Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival. The festival was canceled the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Police reported a total of 112 arrests, the majority of them for public intoxication. A total of 72 citations were issued, mostly for unlawful use of a handicap parking placard.
Other arrests made throughout the weekend included 15 for alleged use of false identification, three for possession of drugs for sale, and nine for various property crimes. There were also 18 citations issued for people parking in a handicapped parking spot.
But police reported no major concert-related criminal activity. The music festival will be repeated next weekend, beginning Friday. Indio police urged anyone who sees suspicious activity to contact the Coachella Valley Crime Stoppers line at 760-341-STOP (7867), or call 911 in emergencies.
