Felon Admits Flashing Gun During Coachella Valley Road Rage Confrontation

INDIO, CA — A convicted felon who waved a pistol at a motorist during a road rage confrontation in Palm Desert, then fled from deputies when they caught up with him minutes later, was behind bars Friday, beginning a 32- month jail sentence after pleading guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges.

Willard Alexander Giron Jr., 27, of Thousand Palms admitted felony evading and brandishing a firearm not in self-defense during his arraignment Thursday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

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The plea was offered to the court immediately after Giron was appointed a public defender. Superior Court Judge Kristi Kirk accepted the terms and imposed the sentence of 2 years, 8 months — all of which will be served in the county jail system, rather than in state prison.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt, shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday, the defendant was involved in a roadway dispute with a motorist, whose identity was not released, near the intersection of Cook Street and Gerald Ford Drive in Palm Desert.

"The victim reported (to 911 dispatchers) that during the road rage incident, a male approached him, yelling and holding a handgun," Milbrandt said. "The suspect left the area and headed northbound on Cook toward Interstate 10."

There were no injuries. Minutes later, after patrol deputies had gotten the license plate and description of the assailant's vehicle from the victim, there was "a Flock (law enforcement camera) alert indicating the license plate was captured in the area of Indio Boulevard and Madison Street," according to the sergeant.

Deputies raced to the location and quickly spotted the car, with Giron at the wheel, and signaled him to stop, which he failed to do, Milbrandt said.

He said a chase ensued, heading northwest along Varner Road. Deputies in a patrol SUV used a "pursuit intervention technique" to clip the vehicle and knock it out of control, immediately ending the pursuit at Varner and Jefferson Street in Indio, roughly a mile from where it started.

Giron was taken into custody without further incident. Neither he, nor anyone else, was injured.

Court records indicated the defendant has prior convictions that led to time in prison, but they weren't listed.