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These numbers come from Indio Police data reported by local news outlets during each festival weekend. They provide a useful snapshot of enforcement trends during Coachella and Stagecoach.
Public statistics tell part of the story. Direct conversations with people who were actually arrested fill in the rest.
In 2025 I represented roughly 45 people arrested at Coachella or Stagecoach and consulted with at least another 25 arrestees. That means I spoke with over 60 festival arrestees across the two events. Based on those conversations, some consistent patterns emerge that are not obvious from the public numbers alone. My detailed FAQ gives clear advice for avoiding arrest.
Most drug arrests happen immediately after security. In the cases I handled, I estimate that about 70% of drug arrests occurred right after attendees cleared the security checkpoint. People would retrieve drugs hidden in socks, underwear, or other hiding places once they believed they were past the security line. At that moment they were often spotted by undercover California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) officers stationed near the entrances.
In other words, many arrests happen within minutes of entering the festival, not deep inside the event.
Most alcohol-related arrests come from fake ID checks. The most common scenario is the 21+ wristband station. A person presents a fake ID to obtain the alcohol bracelet, the ID is detected as fake, and the interaction becomes a citation or arrest.
These observations match the statistical trends: fake ID arrests remain high every year, and drug arrests frequently occur near the entrance areas where undercover enforcement is concentrated.
Both festivals saw higher arrest totals in 2025 than in 2024.
According to ABC7’s report on Indio Police data for Weekend 1, Coachella Weekend 1 in 2024 ended with 81 arrests. KESQ’s report on Weekend 2 reported 112 arrests for the second weekend.
Combined, Coachella produced 193 arrests in 2024.
Reported arrest categories included:
Drug-related arrests and fake ID arrests made up the majority of cases.
KESQ’s Weekend 1 report listed 95 arrests during the first weekend of Coachella 2025. KESQ’s Weekend 2 report reported 128 arrests for the second weekend.
Combined, Coachella had 223 arrests in 2025.
Reported arrest categories were:
This represents roughly a 15.5% increase in arrests compared to 2024. False ID arrests and drug-related arrests remained the largest categories.
KESQ’s 2024 Stagecoach report reported 124 arrests between Thursday and Sunday of the festival weekend.
The reported breakdown included:
Some outlets reported a slightly lower number (112 arrests), apparently counting only the largest categories. However, the category totals tied to Indio Police reporting equal 124 arrests.
KESQ’s 2025 Stagecoach report reported 151 arrests, up from 124 the year before.
Reported categories were:
* KESQ noted that some information was not provided by police.
The standout statistic is the "Other" category, which accounted for 91 arrests. Public reporting did not further explain what offenses were included in that category.
Looking at the two festivals together reveals several consistent patterns.
Arrests increased in 2025. Both Coachella and Stagecoach saw higher arrest totals compared with 2024.
Fake ID arrests remain common. Alcohol enforcement and wristband checks make false identification one of the most predictable arrest categories.
Drug arrests remain a major category. Public reporting alternates between labels like "drug crimes" or "possession for sale," but drug-related arrests consistently represent a large share of cases.
Broad categories limit transparency. The large "Other" category—especially in Stagecoach 2025—makes it difficult to determine exactly what offenses were involved.
