Driver Fleeing Palm Springs Police Gets Stuck in the Sand

A failed license plate light led to a four-mile car chase by Palm Springs police, who had recognized their suspect for having been arrested recently for driving with a concealed sawed-off shotgun, a sergeant said Sunday.

Officers spotted John Duran, 34, driving his Toyota 4-Runner at 10:20 p.m. Saturday without a working license plate lamp. They tried pulling him over around the Spa Casino in the 400 block of East Andreas Road.

Officers recognized Duran as the person authorities arrested July 28 for hiding the weapon under his driver's seat during a traffic stop, Palm Springs police Sgt. William Hutchinson said.

Instead of stopping, Duran allegedly sped off and led police officers in a pursuit that lasted seven minutes. Duran allegedly blew through a number of stop signs and red lights before driving off Vista Chino and into the desert where he later got stuck in the sand, Hutchinson said.

Duran was arrested and officers released his female passenger with no pending charges. Duran was booked for suspicion of felony evading and committing a felony while on bail, Hutchinson said.   

-City News Service