A Desert Hot Springs woman was arrested Monday, June 8 after police said she nearly struck investigators while trying to record an operation that police believe she mistook for federal immigration enforcement operation.
Detectives with the Desert Hot Springs Police Department were assisting a Riverside County task force with compliance checks on registered sex offenders and parolees supervised for violent sex crimes, the police department said on Facebook.
The woman drove past the location several times while attempting to record the investigators, she “drove recklessly and came close to striking” them with her vehicle, police said.
Detectives then attempted to stop the woman, but she did not pull over. She drove to the Desert Hot Springs Police Department, where officers took her into custody.
The woman, who was not identified, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, driving without a valid driver’s license and misdemeanor evading.
“This incident serves as an important reminder that interfering with law enforcement operations can create dangerous situations for officers, investigators, and members of the public,” Desert Hot Springs Police Department said on Facebook. “Regardless of personal opinions or assumptions about an enforcement action, individuals should maintain a safe distance, obey all traffic laws, and comply with lawful orders from law enforcement officers.”
The incident comes amid concerns about heightened immigration enforcement in the Coachella Valley, where residents frequently use local Facebook groups to share suspected sightings of federal agents.
In mid-May, the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, an advocacy group, said it independently confirmed 19 operations by federal immigration agents across the desert over two days.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Police: Woman arrested for reckless driving mistook operation for ICE
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun | USA TODAY Network
