Woman Accused of DUI, Hit-and-Run, Child Endangerment

A woman was arrested Saturday on suspicion of one felony count of child endangerment and three misdemeanors in connection with an alleged DUI hit-and-run crash in Palm Desert, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Marcella Monique Garza, 29, of Palm Desert, was booked at Smith Correctional in Banning and she was released Sunday Oct. 20 on $35,000 bail, according to inmate records. She could not be reached to comment for this report.

Deputies responded at 6:27 p.m. Oct. 19 to a reported hit-and-run crash at East Hovley Lane and Oasis Club Drive, Sgt. David Wright of the sheriff's Palm Desert Station said in a statement.

"The reporting party told dispatch that a newer grey Toyota Corolla hit their vehicle and left the scene," Wright said. "The reporting party followed the vehicle and noticed it ran two red lights."

Deputies found the vehicle on Fred Waring Drive just east of Monterey Avenue, Wright said.

"The vehicle yielded inside an apartment complex at the 72600 block of Fred Waring Drive and the driver was detained without further incident," Wright said. "The investigation revealed that there were two children inside the vehicle during the incident."

The driver was identified as Garza, Wright said.

"It is believed that alcohol consumption was a factor in this collision and the investigation is ongoing," Wright said. "Garza was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident, child endangerment, driving under the influence of alcohol, and violation of probation."

Garza has a court date in December in Indio, according to inmate records.

Anyone with more info was urged to call Officer C. Rogers at the Palm Desert Station, (760) 836-1600, or anonymously at (760) 341-STOP (7867), reference incident #T132920080.