Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Bryan Whitley / Lieutenant Chris Willison
File # T231000094 / T231020029
Details:
On Monday, April 10, 2023, at approximately 12:32 pm, deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to the 41500 block of Woodhaven Drive regarding a suspect who had brandished a knife at employees in the community and made threats to kill them. An extensive search of the area was conducted; however, the suspect was not located. Through the investigation, the suspect was identified as Jeffrey Searcy, a 36-year-old Palm Desert resident.
On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at approximately 10:43 am, deputies responded to a check the welfare in the 77600 block of S. Woodhaven Drive. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with Searcy who stated that he was armed with a handgun and made threats that he would shoot anyone who tried to assist him. A perimeter was established and additional resources were summoned to the scene in an effort to ensure the safety of the community and those involved in this incident. After several hours of negotiations, Searcy was safely taken into custody and later booked into the John Benoit Detention Center, in Indio, for Criminal Threats, Brandishing a Weapon and Resisting an Executive Officer.
No one was injured as a result of this incident and there is no further threat to the community. We would like to thank the affected residents of Palm Desert for their continued patience and their assistance during this high-risk incident. This was a team effort between law enforcement and residents to keep the community safe.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Office would like to remind residents to be vigilant and get to know your neighbors. In the unfortunate instance that something like this occurs in your neighborhood, these relationship are imperative in keeping everyone safe.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Deputy Ford of the Palm Desert Station at (760) 836-1600, or call anonymously at (760) 341-STOP (7867) and reference incident numbers: T231000094 and T231020029.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
If you are interested in a career with us, please apply at joinrsd.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD