Knife-wielding suspect, PSPD officer hospitalized after shooting
PALM SPRINGS — A man who was reportedly shouting racial and homophobic slurs while threatening people with a knife and a Palm Springs police officer were both hospitalized after a violent encounter that led to an officer involved shooting, Friday afternoon, Aug. 8.
The shooting happened in the Bank of America parking lot, in the area of Camino Parocela and S. Palm Canyon Dr., according to Palm Springs PD officials.
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Yesterday’s incident and shooting happened after City of Palm Springs police officers received several 911 calls reporting a physical altercation around 4:17 p.m., PSPD officials later reported. Officers were originally called to the bank’s parking lot, across the street from Sun Center.
“Initial reports indicated there was a man with a knife threatening people at the location,” PSPD later reported.
When officers arrived at the location they quickly spotted a man matching the description of the knife-wielding suspect.
“The man failed to comply with officers’ commands … and fought with officers, which led to an officer involved shooting,” explained PSPD. Officials also later reported on social media that officers deployed a Taser during the fight with the suspect, “which was unsuccessful.”
Riverside County Central Homicide Unit is assisting Palm Springs PD investigating an officer involved shooting that happened outside a Bank of America in Palm Springs yesterday. PSPD photo
“Officers on scene detained and rendered medical aid to the man,” as well as an officer who sustained a possible wrist injury during the melee.
The suspect sustained a non-life threatening injury and the officer’s injuries were later described as moderate. Both were eventually transported to an area hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Although officials reported the officer received treatment for his injuries and has since been released and is recovering at home, no updates regarding the alleged suspect’s injuries or status were provided.
After the violent encounter and shooting, Philip Becerra, who witnessed the incident, told KESQ News, “I did witness the second officer, his hand it was like his wrist was hyper-extended …contorted…and a large amount of blood.”
PSPD later reported there was only one suspect involved in the incident and that there was no further threat to public safety.
After the shooting, PSPD officials requested Riverside County Sheriff’s Department to the location and Central Homicide Unit investigators assumed the shooting investigation.
While officials worked at the scene, they called for the temporary closure of S. Indian Canyon Dr., between Ramon Rd. and Camino Parocela; as well as S. Palm Canyon Dr., between Ramon Rd. and Camino Parocela.
The scene remained active and the roads remained closed for several hours.
Investigators would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the events leading to the shooting. Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact Palm Springs Police Department at (760) 778-8411. Anonymous information can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-7867.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he currently writes for or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, the (now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.