Armed Confrontation In Saguaro Hotel Parking Lot Leads To Arrest: Cops

Palm Desert CA

06 May, 2022

12:45 PM

Description

PALM SPRINGS, CA — A man who threatened two people collecting recyclables in a Palm Canyon parking lot was arrested early Thursday morning and later released on bond, Palm Springs Police reported. Richard Alger, 55, of Desert Hot Springs, was out of custody Friday on a $25,000 bond. According to reports, the unidentified woman was in the parking area of the Saguaro Hotel on the 1800 block of East Palm Canyon "collecting recyclables with a friend," she told police. A suspect thought to be Alger, driving a silver Toyota SUV "took issue with the couple collecting recyclables in his territory," police said. The woman told officers that the suspect "flashed a gun" and threatened their lives before leaving the hotel parking area. Palm Springs police found a car matching that description and detained 55-year-old Desert Hot Springs resident Richard Alger. Alger, a convicted felon, was found in possession of a shotgun and .22 caliber handgun, according to reports. He was booked at the John J. Benoit Detention facility in Indio under suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, a felon possessing a firearm and terrorist threats and driving with a suspended license. Alger left the facility after posting bail on Friday.