Palm Desert Man Found Hiding In Attic After Alleged Neighbor Assault

PALM DESERT, CA — A Palm Desert man was found hiding in his attic Saturday after allegedly assaulting a neighbor with a firearm.

Deputies were summoned at 8:09 a.m. to the 77700 block of Country Club Drive, said Riverside County sheriff's Lt. Chris Willison.

"Deputies arrived and discovered the victims had been assaulted by their neighbor, who had brandished a firearm at them, made threatening statements while brandishing the firearm and ultimately assaulted one of the victims with the firearm," Willison said.

The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Mario Gonzalez, retreated to his nearby apartment and did not come out when ordered by deputies, although they could see the blinds moving inside the apartment, he said.

Deputies evacuated nearby residents and members of the Special Enforcement Bureau obtained a warrant to enter the apartment, where they located Gonzalez hiding in the attic, he said.

Gonzalez was taken to a hospital to be treated for dehydration and was then booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats and resisting arrest, the lieutenant said.

Deputies also arrested 42-year-old Palm Desert resident April De La Riva after it was discovered she assisted Gonzalez in attempting to evade law enforcement, he said.