Arrests made in last Halloween’s trash can explosion in Rancho Mirage
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Authorities have announced the arrest of two men who stand accused of placing and discharging an explosive device in Rancho Mirage on Halloween, October 31, 2020. The explosion, which occurred in the 70200 block of Highway 111, caused a debris field that extended across all six lanes of the highway, according to officials.
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Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the scene around 12:30 a.m. after recieving multiple reports of a large explosion, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Steve Davis has since said.
“At that time, it was learned someone placed an explosive device in a cement trash receptacle,” Davis explained; adding, “The device exploded, causing a debris field which extended across the six lanes of Highway 111.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hazardous Device Team (HDT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.
“After further investigation, 49-year-old, Jason Hershey, of Bermuda Dunes, and 58-year-old Michael Henry Hardisty, of Cathedral City were identified as suspects,” said Davis.
Based on their investigation, on May 19, HDT members, with assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Services Team (EST), arrested Hershey in the area of Washington Street and Country Club Drive, within the unincorporated area of Bermuda Dunes.
Hardisty was arrested the same day by HDT in the area of Highway 111 and Palm Hills, within the city of Palm Springs.
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Hardisty and Hershey have both been charged with exploding a destructive device with the intent to cause property damage and felony vandalism.
Online jail records indicate Hardisty remains in custody at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, where he is being held without bail.
No booking information for Hershey was immediately available.
Officials have not said if there were any known motives for the explosive device’s detonation, which did not cause any injuries.
Anyone with information related to this ongoing investigation is encouraged to contact the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836-1600. Callers can refer to incident file number S203050015 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
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 30 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 18 grandchildren.