"We knew this event was going on and that we're going to have an influx of people staying in two particular hotels within the city," Araiza said. During the event, local police called in for assistance from California Highway Patrol and the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, which is a typical request when large numbers of people are in Palm Springs, he added. Police were patrolling because of concerns specifically around the motorcyclists taking over roadways."
"We know that a lot of times when these motorcyclists drive in packs, they tend to overtake intersections. A lot of times they won't even stop because they're in the pack. If they catch a light on the yellow, the people that hit the red don’t stop," Araiza said. The police took this behavior into account while monitoring the situation to ensure public safety.
The 23 people arrested were part of the event, he confirmed. Six people were arrested on suspicion of weapons violations, five were arrested on suspicion of controlled substance abuse, 10 had arrest warrants involving felonies and misdemeanors, and two were arrested on suspicion of violating their parole."
Araiza said motorcycle groups aren't generally a concern for Palm Springs but worries their presence could pose a problem during large-scale events, which often occur in the summer. Other groups, besides the Mongols Motorcycle Club, have ridden into town.
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