The Palm Springs Police Department temporarily closed a section of the city’s downtown area due to a bomb threat Sunday, Sept. 14.
At around 2:50 p.m. a man parked his car at the intersection of La Plaza and South Palm Canyon Drive before walking into Jimmy B’s restaurant and saying he had a bomb in his car, according to Palm Springs Police Lt. Michael Torres.
Police later identified the man as Chad Everett Miller, 54, of Cathedral City.
A police sergeant in the area quickly detained him, Torres said, and police evacuated the surrounding area as a precaution.
Everett’s car was searched, but no bomb was found. Torres said Everett admitted he was going through a mental health crisis. He is in custody and is expected to be charged with making a bomb threat.
“The Palm Springs Police Department would like to reassure the community that there was no ongoing threat to public safety,” the police said in a press release.
The area from North Palm Canyon, from Tahquitz Canyon to Arenas Road, and North Indian Canyon from La Plaza to Belardo Road were temporarily closed.
At around 4:35 p.m., police had begun to allow cars to drive on the street again and people milled about as the car was towed. No barricade was placed on the street and workers had begun to return to the restaurants in the immediate vicinity.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call PSPD’s non-emergency line at 760-327-1441. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 760-341-7867.
Sam Morgen covers the city of Palm Springs for The Desert Sun. Reach him at smorgen@gannett.com.

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