Month: May 2025

Jesus Reyes

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A Cabazon man was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child, the Banning Police Department announced this week.

Andrew Chavez, 32, was arrested on April 8 at the Las Encinas Mental Hospital in Del Mar, according to jail records. He has been charged with 8 counts of child sex abuse.

Police were first notified of the sexual abuse on the night of March 30 at a home in the city of Banning, authorities said. Police say Chavez was known to the family. Detectives learned the abuse had been occurring over a period of approximately two months before it was reported.

“Banning Police Detectives immediately assumed the investigation and gathered evidence linking Chavez to multiple crimes involving the sexual abuse of a minor. Shortly after the victim disclosed the abuse, Chavez was located at a mental health facility in Pasadena, CA,” reads a Banning PD news release.

Chavez remains in custody on $1 million at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning. He is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Friday, according to court records.

“We commend the bravery of the victim and those who came forward in this case and want to reassure the community that the safety of our most vulnerable residents remains a top priority,” Banning PD wrote.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact the Banning Police Department Detective Bureau at (951) 922-3170.

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Allie Anthony

May is Stroke Awareness Month. 2 million brain cells die every minute a stroke goes untreated.

Time is critical — and one major risk factor often goes unnoticed: Atrial Fibrillation (Afib).

Afib is a common heart condition, especially in people over 65. It causes the heart to beat irregularly, which can lead to blood pooling in the heart. This increases the risk of a clot forming — and if that clot travels to the brain, it can cause a stroke. In fact, Afib increases your risk of stroke by five times.

Afib is becoming more common as our population ages. Studies show that about 1 in 3 white adults and 1 in 5 Black adults will develop Afib during their lifetime.

Symptoms of Afib can include: heart palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain. 

One-third of people with Afib experience no symptoms at all — making regular check-ups with your doctor essential as you age.

However, there are effective treatments involving blood thinners and the Watchman device, which doesn’t correct the heartbeat itself but helps prevent blood clots from forming in the heart — lowering the risk of stroke.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more expert insights on recognizing, treating, and living with Afib. Your awareness could save a life — maybe even your own.

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Tori King

Local heroes were honored in Palm Springs on Wednesday. The 3rd Annual Police Officers’ Association Awards and Community Appreciation Social took place from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Rooftop Flannery Exchange at 750 N Palm Canyon Drive.

News Channel Three’s Tori King spent the afternoon at the Palm Springs Police Department speaking with Officer Michael Torres, who received the award for Sergeant of the Year. Torres says been with the PSPD for several years, and now it’s become a place and a community he now calls his home.”I’ve never been to a place where I literally can go anywhere in the city, and I’m getting waves, smiles, and thank you’s for what I do,” said Torres. Torres says receiving the award is beyond meaningful.

“I’m very honored,” said Torres. “I’ve been fortunate to get some awards throughout my career, but this is one is truly near and dear to my heart.” What makes this award so unique, is that it was voted upon by his peers.

“The best part about all of this is the camaraderie and teamwork and that atmosphere where you guys are working together,” said Torres. “They watch you do your thing, do your work, do whatever it is that you do, and to be acknowledged for that, for doing what you really love while taking care about the community, it’s unbelievable.”From solving cases to responding to emergency calls, Torres says he’s thankful for his fellow officers who are there even on the bad days. But he says he owes this award to his parents and his mentor.

“I owe my parents everything, and I had a good year,” said Torres. “I was very fortunate to have the people that I work with on a daily basis, including Lieutenant Villegas, who’s always been a mentor of mine, and he’s helped me throughout this process and really been a big piece of me growing as a supervisor and as a person as well.”News Channel Three also spoke with Lieutenant Mike Villegas, who says Torres has been a critical member of the PSPD family.

“Michael Torres, you know, he’s very special,” said Villegas. “He brings a lot to the table. He’s very passionate, and his work ethic second to none. But he has really changed the culture coming here.”Villegas also says Torres earned this award through years of hard work, dedication, and determination.”He’s constantly working, whether it’s working to make his troops better, whether it’s working to build relationships within the community, or constantly striving to be better himself,” said Villegas. “He’s truly a special man and I’m very happy for him. He more than deserves it.”

Torres also says he’s grateful to the entire department, and that he looks forward to working alongside Chief Andy Mills and Lieutenant Villegas in the years to come.”It means the world to me that they see the little things that I was trying to bring to the table,” said Torres. “The little intangibles. Those are the kind of things that really matter in the scheme of things.”For more information on the awards, or the Palm Springs Police Officers Association click here.

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