Whittier Man Arrested In Coachella Following Freeway Chase

On April 4th, 2024, at 2:16 p.m., members of the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force and the Thermal Sheriff’s Station located a vehicle in the City of Indio with a driver who was suspected of driving under the influence. 

The vehicle generated multiple calls for service related to the vehicle’s erratic driving actions and the driver’s erratic behavior. The vehicle fled from deputies, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. The vehicle pursuit ended on eastbound Interstate 10 east of Coachella. 

At the end of the pursuit, the suspect intentionally backed his vehicle into deputies’ vehicles. The suspect then exited the vehicle and was taken into custody. Jonathon Daniel Ortiz, a 21-year-old of Whittier, was arrested and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, evading and driving under the influence. There were no reported injuries to the deputies or suspect. 

DUI suspect Jonathan Daniel Ortiz, arrested in Coachella April 4th 2024

Photo from Riverside county Sheriffs Dept