Coachella Bomb Threat Suspect Tracked and Arrested Near Festival Grounds

A bomb threat made Saturday at a casino just miles from Coachella's sprawling festival grounds prompted a region-wide manhunt that ended with a man's arrest in Palm Springs, USA Today reports.

Davis Darvish, 40, is being held on $1 million bail after allegedly threatening to bomb the iconic festival, according to the Cathedral City Police Department. The incident unfolded on the morning of April 12th, when Darvish approached security staff at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage. Authorities say he claimed he would be responsible for a bombing at the nearby ongoing Coachella festival.

The threat prompted immediate coordination between local agencies and festival security teams. Law enforcement used automated license plate recognition technology to track Darvish's vehicle through the Coachella Valley. Within about 90 minutes, Palm Springs police had located and detained him without incident.

Officials confirmed that no weapons, explosives or bomb-making materials were found in Darvish's possession or vehicle. Nonetheless, he was booked into Indio's John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of making false bomb threats, pending further investigation.

Cathedral City detectives have since launched a broader inquiry into Darvish’s actions leading up to the threat, focusing particularly on his interaction with the Rancho Mirage casino. No formal charges had been filed as of Sunday evening, but authorities continue to encourage public tips related to the case.

In the meantime, authorities have stated that there is no ongoing threat to public safety. Coachella's second weekend is set to begin April 18th as scheduled.