UPDATE: Officer Involved Shooting; Suspect Arrested

On Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at approximately 10:48 PM, a Palm Springs Police Department Patrol Officer was patrolling the 600 block of South Camino Real. The Officer located an unoccupied vehicle parked at a nearby apartment complex parking lot  off of South Camino Real. The Officer recognized the suspect vehicle as a vehicle that was reportedly used during an attempted residential burglary in Palm Springs on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Palm Springs Police Department Patrol Officers began watching the parked suspect vehicle, waiting for the driver of the vehicle to return to it. At approximately 11:26 PM, the Officers watched two individuals enter the vehicle. In an effort to detain and identify the individuals, Officers walked up to the suspect vehicle and contacted the suspect driver and front passenger. The suspect in the driver's seat ignored the Officers' repeated commands to exit the vehicle. Two Officers and a Sergeant began to physically attempt to remove the suspect driver from the vehicle but he refused to comply. Additional officers successfully detained the male front passenger outside of the vehicle while the suspect driver continued to physically resist the Officers and Sergeant. A Sergeant deployed a Taser upon the suspect in the driver's seat, but it was ineffective. While the driver's side door remained open, the suspect accelerated the vehicle in reverse, striking the two Officers and the Sergeant. The suspect ran over the two Officers and the Sergeant, injuring all three. An officer involved shooting occurred simultaneously to the suspect speeding off in the vehicle with the lights off. The suspect vehicle sped away from the area.

During the officer involved shooting, an innocent bystander walking in the area was struck in the leg by a bullet fragment. The 49 year old male was transported to a local hospital and has since been treated and released.

The two Officers and Sergeant were taken to a local hospital. They have been treated and released with moderate injuries. One officer sustained injuries to his hand, arm, chest, and legs. One officer sustained injuries to a leg and foot. The Sergeant sustained injuries to his hands, arms, knees, and face. All three were placed on paid Administrative Leave, in accordance with Palm Springs Police Department policies and procedures.

At the request of Police Chief Al Franz, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department Central Homicide Unit was notified and requested to handle the criminal investigation into the officer involved shooting. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department Central Homicide responded and is conducting the investigation. The Palm Springs Police Department is in full cooperation with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department in this investigation.

Officers from the California Highway Patrol, Beaumont Police Department, Cathedral City Police Department, Desert Hot Springs Police Department, Indio Police Department and Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department began assisting the Palm Springs Police Department with the search for the suspect.

On Thursday, January 10, 2013, at approximately 12:05 AM, the Cathedral City Police Department located the suspect vehicle abandoned in a dirt lot near the 32700 block of Pueblo Trail. Officers on scene established a perimeter and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 11:19 AM, the 18 year old suspect surrendered to members of the Cathedral City Police Department, Riverside County (PACT East) Team, and the Coachella Valley Gang and Violent Crime Task Force. He was taken into the into custody and was transported to a local hospital to be treated for injuries suspected to have been sustained during the officer involved shooting.

The Palm Springs Police Department extends tremendous gratitude to all of the local law enforcement agencies who assisted in this incident. PSPD will provide additional information as soon as it can be made available. Anybody with information on this incident is asked to contact Riverside County Sheriff's Department Central Homicide Unit Investigator James Campos at 951-955-2777, the Palm Springs Police Department at 760-323-8116, or Valley Crime Stoppers at 760-341-STOP (7867).

South Camino Real, between Sunny Dunes Road and Camino Parocela, will be closed to the public while the investigation at the scene continues.