Author: KESQ

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Zita and her K-9 handler, Officer Stephanie Sandoval, will be deployed to Palm Springs International Airport, where they will join another PSPD pup, K9 Apollo, sniffing firearms and explosives. 

“She’s learned to pick up 14 variations of different explosive odor,” Sandoval said. “So when I came in three weeks later, they taught me how to read her cues.” 

K-9 Zita is a year and a half old Holland Shepard, who is ready to work. Zita and Officer Sandoval will also be the first female K-9 team in the department’s history. The two graduated from the K-9 academy in late June, according to the department.

“It’s pretty awesome for us to integrate a female canine into our program… our female group,” Sandoval said. “Like finally, it’s awesome.”

Thursday through Saturday the pair works at the Palm Springs International Airport with K9 Apollo. Sandoval said Zita and Apolla are the only bomb dogs at PSPD and California in general doesn’t have a lot of dogs trained in this field.

She said their training is necessary especially after recent events in Palm Springs.

“We work hand-in-hand with TSA so anything coming in through TSA that would be of concern TSA will call us for an assist. Oddly enough we do get a lot of firearms coming through,” she said. “And we did have a bombing earlier this year, so it’s extremely important now that we can cover the entire week.”

Sandoval said it’s a specialized job Zita will only get better at with time.

“She’s very confident. So when I put her in new scenarios, she has no problem with it normally,” she said. “She truly, truly does have a high drive to work. She loves her job. I’m excited to get to know her, and to really become a team.”

Stay with News Channel 3 to meet Zita and Officer Sandoval.

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KYMA

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) – Two suspects are behind bars after they were caught driving a vehicle stolen out of Riverside, California, but that’s not all police found in the car.

Law enforcement says the two suspects claimed they did not know where the checks came from.

The Brawley Police Department says a 24-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy from Coachella were arrested after one of their cameras captured a stolen BMW entering the city.

Police say they followed the car and stopped the suspects at a B Food Mart gas station.

“An inventory search was later conducted in the vehicle which they located over $28,000 in cashier checks,” said Interim Cmdr. Mark Cano.

Brawley police say the two suspect claimed they did not know where the checks came from.

“The subjects made allegations that they didn’t know that the cashiers checks were in the vehicle and they also claimed that the vehicle that they had gotten permission to take the vehicle which was stolen,” said Interim Cmdr. Cano.

The 24-year old suspect is being held at the Imperial County Jail, while the 16-year old suspect is being held at the Imperial County juvenile hall.

They are both being charged with conspiracy possession of a stolen vehicle and check fraud.

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Garrett Hottle

DESERT CENTER, Calif. (KESQ) The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its search for 55-year-old Angela Kewish, last seen on July 8 in Desert Center.

Kewish was reportedly driving east on I-10 in a 2010 grey BMW X5 with California license plate 8VVY889. She is described as 5’7”, 143 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

On Thursday morning, KESQ News Channel 3, asked the Riverside Sheriff’s Office for an update on the search for Kewish and received this email:

“On July 12, 2025, at 12:45 p.m., deputies were contacted regarding a missing person. The reporting party advised that she wanted to report her daughter, 55-year-old Angela Kewish, missing. She advised deputies she last had contact with Angela on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

A description of Angela’s vehicle was obtained, and deputies conducted a search of the area but were unable to locate Angela or the vehicle. Angela Kewish was entered into the missing persons database. At this time, there is no new information regarding this investigation; however, it remains ongoing.”

Email from Riverside Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 14, 2025

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Riverside Sheriff’s Thermal Station at 760-863-8942 or 760-863-8990.

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Jesus Reyes

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – A Yucca Valley man was arrested this week after being accused of sexually abusing a child, authorities announced.

Raul Custodio, 44, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon following a report of lewd acts with a child along Crestview Drive in Yucca Valley.

“During the investigation, it was discovered that Raul Custodio had committed continuous sexual abuse of a child,” reads a news release by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Custodio was arrested after an investigation. He was booked into the Morongo Basin jail and is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Detectives released Custodio’s photograph on Thursday as they believe there may be additional victims. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective S. Ables or Detective T. Bengard at (760) 366-4175. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – In an effort to promote the city of Palm Springs’ objectives of health, wellness and year-round recreation, city officials will expand the swim center’s hours of operation starting next month, it was announced today.

“This exciting change comes in response to growing community interest and a commitment to providing greater access to aquatic programs and recreational swimming,” officials said.

The swim center, at 405 S. Pavillion Way, will launch the new hours Sept. 22, and it will vary depending on the day. The hours will be 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fridays through Sundays.   

“We’re excited to offer more flexibility for our residents and visitors to enjoy the swim center,” Parks and Recreation Director Nicholas Gonzalez said in a statement. “Whether you’re an early riser looking to swimbefore work or a family wanting more weekend recreation, these new hours are designed to better serve our community.”  

More information can be found at palmspringsca.gov/recreation, or through the Parks and Recreation Department, at 760-323-8272.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Palm Springs International Airport will launch a seasonal nonstop service to Austin, Texas next year via Southwest Airlines.   

“Adding Southwest on the Austin route gives travelers more choices than ever,” Executive Director of Aviation at PSP Harry Barrett Jr. said in a statement. “When airlines compete, travelers often benefit with more convenient schedules and competitive fares — and that’s great news for anyone flying between Palm Springs and Austin.”

Travelers at PSP will have more options to travel to Austin with Delta Airlines and Southwest Airlines, officials said.  

The service will be offered Saturdays and Sundays aboard Boeing 737 fleet from March 5 through April 6, 2026.

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City News Service

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – Cathedral City officials will host a commemorative event later this month to mark 100 years since the first recorded land marker that showed the official development of the city.

The centennial celebration will feature a screening of two films that depict the city and history at Mary Pickford Theatre.   

The free event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 30 at 36850 Pickfair St.  

Organizers said “Palm Springs Weekend,” a 1963 film shot in Cathedral City and “Cathedral City: Built by Grit and Grace,” a short documentary about the city’s history will screen at the theatre, with free refreshments provided.   

In collaboration with the city’s Historic Preservation Committee, attendees will receive an exclusive 100th anniversary swag bag

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Garrett Hottle

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) Update 8/17: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department tells News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle, Nicholas was located on Friday Aug. 15 around 5:45pm in the 72000 block of Highway 111, and has been removed from the missing person  database.

This a developing story and will be updated with further information as it becomes available.

Original Article 8/15

The search continues for 29-year-old Nicholas “Nick” Bialkowski, who vanished last month after multiple police contacts in the Coachella Valley.

According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs#MP148489) and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, his last official contact was July 14 in La Quinta, when Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies arrested and released him the same day.

In a Facebook post, Bialkowski’s mother urged the community to remain alert in La Quinta, Palm Desert and Palm Springs, adding: “Our hope is that our recent collective efforts may potentially confirm he is receiving necessary care or support at a facility. Please maintain your search efforts … praying for his safe return!!”

Social media post shared on Facebook from family members say he was last seen a day later, July 15, sitting on a bench outside a Vons grocery store in La Quinta.

In a Facebook post, Bialkowski’s mother called her son’s disappearance “highly unusual” and “completely out of character.” She wrote:

“Nick’s behavior is completely out of character and his disappearance is highly unusual. He has never gone missing before. We believe he may be struggling with mental health issues, possibly compounded by a history of concussions.”

He is described as 5 feet 11, 175 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, often with a scruffy beard, and a small scar between his eyebrows, according to a family flyer shared publicly online. 

Social media post shared on Facebook from Sondra Bialkowski and information on Namus, say Nick left Arizona for Southern California in late June and that his Tesla was later found and towed in Palm Springs.

“Nicholas quit his six figure job abruptly. He left Scottsdale, Arizona on 06/24/25 and ended up in Palm Springs, California where his Tesla was abandoned and later towed. Nick was contacted by Palm Springs police on 07/02/25, by Indio Police on 07/06/25 and by Deputy Sheriff’s in La Quinta on 07/14/25. Nicolas has left his phone behind and has not contacted any of his friends or family.”

Circumstances of Disappearance – (NamUs#MP148489)

On Friday, Palm Springs Police confirmed to News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle they’ve investigated tips as recently as last Thursday but have not located him. Officers say they are aware of surveillance video tied to dine-and-dash incidents involving Nicholas, but have found no record of his Tesla being towed in the city.

“Every time he’s been contacted here in Palm Springs, there was never a vehicle involved,” Palm Springs Police officer Lt. Mike Torres said. “We are unaware of any Tesla that’s involved in anything in Palm Springs or in the in the Coachella Valley. Our records… do not show any tow as well. So I’m not sure who the Tesla comes from. We’re trying to figure that out.”

Obtained from (NamUs#MP148489)

Nicholas Bialkowski was charged with multiple misdemeanors in the month of July in Riverside County, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

NamUs, the federal missing person database, lists him as missing under case #MP148489. Palm Springs Police, Indio Police, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department have all confirmed encounters with him in the weeks before he vanished. News Channel 3 has been investigating the details of those encounters leading up to his disappearance. Here’s the timeline of what we know:

Timeline of Known Encounters

June 30 — Palm Springs (Escena Golf Club):Palm Springs Police responded to a dine-and-dash call at a golf course on Clubhouse View Drive. Officers couldn’t find the suspect at the time, but say a photo taken during the incident was later used to help identify Bialkowski in another case two days later. News Channel 3 has reached out to the Escena Golf Club for more information regarding this incident, and will update you as information becomes available.

July 2 — Palm Springs (Rowan Hotel):Two separate dine-and-dash incidents occurred inside the hotel, one at 10:48 a.m. for about $45, and another at 8:18 p.m. for about $60, according to the Palm Springs Police Department. Bialkowski was identified after an officer recognized him from a photo taken during the June 30 golf course case, linking him to all three incidents, including the call at Escena Golf Club, said Lt. Mike Torres.

“They were able to identify that person at that time because he was contacted by the officer, and then the other officer came in and had a picture of the subject from the initial call,” Lt. Torres said. “They linked them together.”

July 6 — Indio (Dino Restaurant):According to the Indio Police Department, officers were dispatched around 10:42 p.m. after staff reported a customer left Dino Restaurant without paying a $25 bill. A restaurant employee later pointed out the suspect identified as Bialkowski at a nearby liquor store. When contacted, police say he admitted he had no money but was hungry. He was taken into custody after an employee signed a private person’s arrest form on behalf of the restaurant.

Bialkowski was booked into the Riverside County Jail on charges of defrauding an innkeeper and released on July 7. Indio Police say the case has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

News Channel 3 has reached out Dino Restaurant about the events on July 6, and will update you with further information as it becomes available.

July 14 — La Quinta (Highway 111 & Adams Street):The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department says deputies contacted Bialkowski around 5:17 p.m. after employees reported merchandise stolen from a business. Police say staff identified the items in his possession as belonging to the store. He was taken into custody and booked into the John Benoit Detention Center at 6:43 p.m., then released at 10:08 p.m. the same night. The Sheriff’s Department says the case remains under investigation.

The last known contact the Riverside Sheriff’s Office had with Bialkowski was during his release from custody on July 14, 2025, at 10:08 p.m.

July 15 — La Quinta (Vons, per family):According to Facebook post shared by family Bialkowski was last seen sitting on a bench outside the Vons grocery store in La Quinta. This sighting has not been confirmed by law enforcement.

July 19 — La Quinta (Highway 111):According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were dispatched at 7:28 a.m. after Bialkowski’s mother reported him missing in the 78000 block of Highway 111. Deputies confirmed he had been arrested three times in July for misdemeanor offenses, most recently on July 14. The Sheriff’s Department says the investigation remains ongoing.

Palm Springs Police confirmed to News Channel 3’s Garrett Hottle they followed up on a possible sighting as recently as last Thursday on Aug. 14, but did not find him.

Bialkowski is described as 5’11”, 175 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, scruffy facial hair, and a small scar between his eyebrows.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Thermal Station at (760) 863-8990 or reference NamUs case ID #MP148489.

This is a developing story, and this post will be updated with further information as it becomes available. 

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Athena Jreij

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) — Riverside County volunteers with Voices for Children are providing a new level of support and mentorship to youth in the foster care system through the organization’s CASA program. 

CASAs, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, support foster children’s educational and domestic rights, with the power to place children in safer homes.

“In the process of getting to know their teachers, their lawyers, their psychologist, their family members, a lot of times the CASA member might be the difference between a child staying with family members and going into foster care indefinitely,” said Robert Huesca, a Palm Springs volunteer.

However, with more than 25% of the county’s foster kids residing in the Valley, officials say thousands are without a CASA going into the school year.

For Anthony O’Leary, who faced an inconsistent childhood in the system, having a CASA made all the difference.

“I went in and out of foster care system many times throughout my early years, it still never felt right. I always questioned everything, especially my at home life and why my parents would, you know, do something like this to me,” O’Leary said.

O’Leary says his CASA, Daniel, supported him in and outside of the courtroom.

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, just 50% of foster youth will graduate high school and less than 3% will make it through college.

“He proved his his worthiness of my trust and the impact that he can make from the very beginning all the way up to, me getting out of the foster care system due to him advocating for me to move back in with my great aunt and great grandma, my forever home.”

According to the National Foster Youth Institute, just 50% of foster youth will graduate high school and less than 3% will make it through college. It’s a statistic O’Leary was able to defy, with the help of his CASA who he credits him with helping attend UCLA on a full-ride scholarship.

Now, officials with Voices for Children are putting out the call that the impact of a CASA can change more than just one life.

“It’s so important that we look at these young kids as potential law makers, teachers, educators and people that are going to impact our communities for years to come,” O’Leary said.

No requirements are needed to become a CASA volunteer. If you’re interested in getting involved, visit: https://www.speakupnow.org/

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Luis Avila

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – A once-familiar space is getting a new life. Work has started on the upcoming Eagle Cathedral City, a bar that promises to offer more than just a remodel.

Jeremy and Phillip Nalwalker, co-owners of Eagle Cathedral City, say patrons can expect a completely redone interior, modern sound and lighting systems, and a larger dance floor, among other things.

It’s set to open its doors in the building that formerly housed The Barracks — a longtime staple of the local LGBTQ+ community before it closed down in 2024.

The owners say that’s part of the reason they were inspired to open Eagle.

“This is a space we used to come frequently, it was our home bar… We felt there really was a hole in our community once it closed… It seemed no one was doing anything to fill that gap so we thought, let’s do it.”

Jeremy Nalwalker, Eagle Cathedral City Co-owner

But the former bar had a tainted legacy — one marked by community concerns and serious allegations in its final years.

The owners say creating a safe environment is their top priority.

“First and foremost, we want a safe place for our community to come and gather for years to come and I think, to be able to do that, we follow all the local and state law and regulations that apply to bars and premises that sell alcohol. That’s our most important thing we need to do.”

Jeremy Nalwalker, Eagle Cathedral City Co-owner

Eagle Cathedral City is already generating excitement. Community members have expressed optimism about the new bar and what it could bring to the area.

City officials are also embracing the change. In a statement to News Channel 3, Cathedral City City Manager Charlie McClendon said:

“The City of Cathedral City is excited to support another business opening in our community following the closure of The Barracks. We take tremendous pride in our city’s substantial LGBTQ+ population and Cathedral City’s rich history as a welcoming place for diverse entrepreneurs and businesses.

The owners of Eagle Cathedral City have been incredibly communicative and responsive throughout their interactions with City staff. While they still need to complete the site plan submission and business license process, we appreciate their proactive approach and professionalism.

Cathedral City has long been a place where diverse businesses can thrive, and we’re committed to supporting entrepreneurs who want to contribute to our vibrant community. We wish the Eagle Cathedral City team well on their journey and look forward to working with them to complete the necessary processes.

This represents another chapter in Cathedral City’s proud tradition of welcoming LGBTQ+ businesses and celebrating the diversity that makes our community special.”

Beyond being a nightlife venue, Eagle Cathedral City aims to play an active role in the local community.

“We want the Eagle to be a hub for the community and a place where different nonprofit organizations can leverage our space to donate to charity.”

Phillip Nalwalker, Eagle Cathedral City Co-owner

Eagle Cathedral City is expected to open this winter

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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