The Palm Springs Police Department announced the arrest of a man they say was driving under the influence, tried to evade police, and assaulted a K9 on Friday night.
An officer was driving in a parking lot on South Sunrise Way at 10:44 pm when he observed a vehicle driving erratically and almost striking two parked vehicles. The officer suspected the driver, later identified as Robert Martini, was driving under the influence.
The officer attempted to pull over the vehicle, but Martini failed to yield and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Martini pulled over in the area of Airlane Drive and East Plaimor Avenue, but he refused to obey officers’ commands to exit the vehicle and then drove away, say police.
The PSPD says Martini then yielded a second time in a parking lot on South Farrell Drive, where Martini once again refused to obey officers’ commands. A Palm Springs Police K9 was deployed successfully, however, in the process of detaining Martini, officers say he assaulted the Police K9.
Martini suffered moderate injuries to his arm resulting from the K9 apprehension. The Police K9 and involved officers were not injured.
Martini was taken to the hospital for treatment, then arrested for felony evading police, assault of a Police K9, driving under the influence of drugs) and resisting a peace officer.
