DUI suspect smashes into light pole in Palm Desert, flees scene

Michael Harrington

DUI suspect smashes into light pole in Palm Desert, flees scene

Written by Trevor Montgomery

Riverside County News Source

Palm Desert, Calif., On Thursday, October 8, 2015 at approximately 9:13 p.m., deputies from the Riverside County SHeriff's Department's Palm Desert Police station responded to a report of a single-vehicle traffic collision that occurred on Highway 111 at Town Center Way. 

Several phone calls were received from the public regarding a silver Cadillac that had struck a traffic control signal pole at the location and became disabled. The driver of the Cadillac had been seen running from the collision on foot.

Callers stated the suspect was chased down and detained by a witness on scene and detained until deputies arrived. In a press release the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Sergeant Ken Black wrote, "The driver of the Cadillac, 25-year-old Michael Harrington of Thousand Palms, was eventually arrested for driving while intoxicated and misdemeanor hit and run. Harrington was booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio after being medically cleared at a local hospital."

After an initial investigation, Harrington was arrested for non-injury DUI Hot and Run.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department encourages anyone with information about this traffic collision to contact the Palm Desert Police Department at (760) 836-1600 or Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number: T152810133

Contact the writer: trevor.rcns@gmail.com