Police Chief Andy Mills Clarifies Role in FBI Terror Plot Arrests

The Palm Springs Police Department played a supportive role in a multi-agency operation that led to the arrest of four suspects accused of planning New Year's Eve bombings in Southern California, according to Chief Andy Mills.

At a Monday morning news conference, federal prosecutors announced the arrests, which occurred last Friday. The FBI and Justice Department said the suspects were preparing to test explosive devices in the Mojave Desert ahead of planned attacks on five targets across Los Angeles and Orange County. Authorities said the intended targets were Amazon-type logistics centers, though specific locations were not disclosed.

The arrests came as part of a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies. Those arrested are Audrey Carroll, 30; Zachary Aaron Page, 32; Dante Gaffield, 24; and Tina Lai, 41. The suspects allegedly belong to an offshoot of a pro-Palestinian group called Turtle Island Liberation Front and face charges of conspiracy and possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Chief Mills, who made a brief appearance at the conference, clarified his department's involvement in the investigation, saying they provided logistics support to the FBI-led operation.

Mills emphasized that the Coachella Valley was not among the planned targets and thanked the FBI for its swift action in disrupting the plot. "This gives me hope because of the unified effort from all law enforcement," Mills said. "That people like this are removed from the community to make sure that all of us can live in peace."

The investigation remains ongoing.