Month: November 2025

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – A law enforcement training exercise will take place Thursday night at Palm Springs International Airport, but flight operations are not expected to be affected.

The exercise will be held from late Thursday into early Friday, officials said.

“The annual training brings together multiple law enforcement agencies to enhance emergency preparedness and interagency coordination,” according to a statement from the airport. “Nearby residents and businesses may hear overnight activity or noise from the airport area during theexercise.”

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Shay Lawson

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)  – In partnership with FIND Food Bank, College of the Desert is hosting a number of food distribution events across campuses.

Organizers said distribution events are open to the public and students.

News Channel 3 is attending the next distribution event on Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Desert Hot Springs Campus located at 11625 West Dr. Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240.

Stay with us for continuing coverage. For a list of future distribution events visit this link.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – Pretrial motions got underway today ahead of jury selection for the trial of an ex-Riverside County sheriff’s deputy accused of harassing and abducting a woman, as well as possessing child pornography.   

Alexander Ravy Vanny, 34, of Hemet was arrested last year following an investigation by the sheriff’s department’s Special Victims Unit.

Vanny is charged with kidnapping, stalking, possession of child porn, unauthorized use of protected electronic data, maliciously destroying a wireless device, witness intimidation, illicit eavesdropping, using a concealed camera to invade a person’s privacy, illegal use of a tracking device to monitor a person, interference with a traffic control device and possession of a firearm in violation of a protective order, with a sentence-enhancing allegation of perpetrating a felony while on bail.

Vanny’s case was moved Wednesday from the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta to the Larson Justice Center in Indio, where jury trial proceedings were slated to begin in the coming days, following Riverside County Superior Court Judge James Hawkins’ rulings on prosecution and defense motions.

Vanny is being held without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.  

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Kelleher, Special Victims Unit detectives received word at the end of last November regarding Vanny’s alleged harassment of the woman, whose complaints earlier in 2024 had prompted a separate investigation into the defendant’s alleged misconduct.

Sufficient evidence was gathered to book the former lawman into custody.   

Vanny was first arrested on June 22, 2024, following the Special Victims Unit’s findings from an investigation that began weeks before when the alleged victim, identified in court documents only as “M.P.G.,” told a law enforcement officer that she had been assaulted by the defendant.

At the time, the woman was confirmed to be a sheriff’s department volunteer at the Hemet station, where Vanny was assigned.   

He was booked into the Banning jail but posted a $1 million bond and was released. He was initially placed on paid administrative leave, but within a few months he was fired from the department, according to sheriff’s officials.

The criminal complaint against him alleged that he abducted M.P.G. sometime between May and December 2024. The document stated that sometime between August and December, he “unlawfully, maliciously and repeatedly followed and harassed” the victim.

He also gleaned specific data from a government computer system, copied it and loaded the information onto his personal electronic device, the complaint alleged.

It further said that he allegedly destroyed a mobile phone “to prevent the use of the (phone) to … notify law enforcement of a crime.”   

No additional details were provided.   

While he was out on bail, Vanny was separately charged with possession of child pornography.

He had been a sworn peace officer since he was hired by the sheriff’s department in 2016.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce announced today that artist couple Karen and Tony Barone will be honored with the 482nd star on the Walk of the Stars next week at the downtown park.   

The Barones will receive the star in the category of artist/architect/designer at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the corner of Belardo Road and Museum Way.

They are known for large-scale sculptures, paintings and videos among international audiences including in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and France, officials said.

Originally from Chicago, their sculptures can be seen at numerous locations throughout the Coachella Valley, such as the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, Desert Regional Medical Center, the Palm Springs Library and El Paseo in Palm Desert.

“Through their ongoing `Art in Public Places’ initiatives, the Barones have enriched the region with joyful, colorful, larger-than-life works that celebrate and honor organizations and individuals who serve the Coachella Valley with compassion and care,” officials said.

The Barones have been long-time donors to nonprofits including Tools for Tomorrow, DAP Health, Desert Arc, Animal Samaritans and the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.  

Organizers said their artistic work embodies the spirit of creativity, generosity and innovation that defines Palm Springs.   

More information can be found at walkofthestars@pschamber.org.

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