Local & Community
Bomb Scare Shuts Down Palm Canyon Drive; Suspect in Custody
Downtown Palm Springs was brought to a standstill this afternoon after a man claimed there was a bomb inside his vehicle. The incident unfolded on Palm Canyon Drive at La Plaza, when a man driving a small SUV stopped in the middle of traffic and allegedly told someone nearby there was a bomb in the car.
Witnesses described seeing the man behaving erratically before Palm Springs Police arrived and quickly secured the area. Officers shut down six blocks of Palm Canyon Drive along with multiple cross streets. Dozens of businesses were evacuated, forcing many visitors and locals to leave their cars behind within the police perimeter.
Cell phone video from a witness shows the suspect appearing agitated before officers moved in and arrested him. He was later identified as a 54-year-old man from Cathedral City. Police say no bomb was found after a thorough inspection of the vehicle. Lieutenant Michael Torres with the Palm Springs Police Department said the aggressive response was necessary to ensure community safety, "Our most important part of our whole job is make sure the community is safe." he said, noting that the department acted out of an abundance of caution.
Investigators believe the man may be experiencing a mental health crisis, but will face criminal charges.
By: NBC Palm Springs
September 14, 2025
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