Author: KESQ

Kendall Flynn

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The City of Indio has been faced with 911 lines down multiple times in the last couple of weeks. The Indio Police Department confirmed Friday morning the lines were down starting around 6 a.m.

According to Indio PD it is unknown when the lines will be back up. This comes after another outage within the City on July 24 and June 9.

The Indio PD dispatch team said the outages are coming from the state carrier Frontier, where the fiber lines are being but by vandals. The Indio Dispatch Supervisor, Helen Polanco, said the department see around two fiber cuts per month, and are looking to the state for a solution.

“We have a meeting with the state COES, which is California Office of Emergency Services, to try to find a solution for this and maybe find another carrier because this is unacceptable,” Polanco said.

Indio said the outage is particularly concerning because residents use 911 as a direct line to the department. If residents call 911, it does not ring. They will then be called by another department and transferred. While it is a solution, Indio said it causes a delay in service.

They ask all residents to call the non-emergency lines for a direct call to Indio PD. For now, officials are unsure of when the outage will end or when they find a long-term solution.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from city officials on what is being done to find a solution to this issue and what residents need to know.

To reach emergency services during a 911 outage, reach out to the non-emergency lines.

Indio: (760) 391-4051

Cathedral City: 760-770-0303

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City News Service

LAKE MATTHEWS, Calif. (KESQ) – A 41-year-old Riverside County deputy accused of accessing unauthorized and confidential information from government databases for personal use was out on bail today.

The deputy was arrested and booked into the Presley Detention Center in Riverside on Thursday on suspicion of unauthorized computer access.

He was released the same day on $40,000 bail.   

On May 8, investigators started to look into the deputy’s computer access, according to Lt. Albert Martinez.

He was arrested in Murrieta without incident on Thursday, Martinez said.

The deputy has worked with the department since Oct. 2008, and was most recently assigned to the Lake Elsinore station.   

He was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.   

No further details will be released, and anyone with additional information was urged to contact Investigator Andrew at 951-272-5600.

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Luis Avila

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – As animal shelters across the country continue to grapple with overcrowding, shrinking budgets, and growing demands, Animal Samaritans is turning to creativity — and humor — to help keep lifesaving programs alive.

‘Poorly Drawn Pets’ is back… and worse than ever. For a $20 donation, residents receive a one-of-a-kind portrait of their pet – intentionally drawn with more heart than artistic skill.

Behind the laughs is a serious mission. Every dollar raised through the campaign goes toward the shelter’s vital programs.

“The funds that we raise through out ‘Poorly Drawn Pets’ fundraiser all goes towards Animal Samaritans’ life-saving program. We have our no kill shelter, it’s going to help care for the animals that come through our shelter, we have programs for our veterinary clinics that provide medical care that’s needed for people’s pets and maybe they can’t afford it.”

Valerie Kattz, Animal Samaritans development & public relations

With shelters across the country overcrowded, officials hope this creative initiative will raise both awareness and support.

“That is a big problem for shelters throughout the country and definitely a problem here in the desert. What we do is we have a dedicated staff member that works with some of the high risk shelters and her job is to get animals out of the shelter before something happens to them and get them into the safety of no-kill shelters like ours.”

Valerie Kattz, Animal Samaritans development & public relations

The fundraiser highlights a serious cause in a lighthearted way, and proves that sometimes doing good doesn’t have to be picture perfect.

If you are interested in donating, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

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María García

UPDATE 8/8/25 – Cathedral City Police Department reports that as of 9:22 p.m. Friday night, 911 service has been restored for Cathedral City. They ask that people continue to call 760-770-0303 for all non-emergencies.

Indio Police have not yet announced any restoration time for 911 calls in Indio.

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – 911 phone lines are down in Indio and Cathedral City, police announced Friday.

Both agencies said they are working on restoring it, but the exact timeline is unknown.

If you have an emergency, you are asked to call:

Indio: (760) 391-4051

Cathedral City: 760-770-0303

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates.

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Jeff Stahl

UPDATE: 8/7/25 8:04 AM – A brief outage led to a temporary ground stop at the airport. According to the airport administration, the ground stop has now been lifted, and flights are gradually returning to normal operations.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – We are tracking breaking news in Palm Springs, where a number of morning flights have been delayed at Palm Springs International Airport.

The airport’s flight status web page showed that nine outgoing flights were delayed.

KESQ News Channel 3 has heard from travelers at the airport that the cause of the delays is equipment-related.

Delayed passenger, Chris Schultzy, shared this photo with KESQ, saying the Southwest Airlines flight he was on had been stuck and sitting on their airport’s tarmac for an hour and a half.

We are working to get a comment from the airport administration on the cause for the numerous delays and will bring you updates as we get them.

Travelers may want to call ahead before heading to the airport for a flight today.

Stay with KESQ News Channel 3 for updates on this breaking news alert.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ)– Valley doctors say they’re seeing an increase in patients with “Brain Fog.”

Brain fog is a term used to describe a range of cognitive symptoms, including impaired concentration, memory lapses and mental fatigue. Doctors say it’s common after covid but can also be caused by stress or underlying conditions.

Officials say it’s important for people with severe brain fog to seek medical attention.

Dr. Elaine Fogel Schneider, local psychologist says, “These are highly intelligent individuals. Some are working, some are retired, but it really affects their ability to have their daily lives functioning at a higher capacity.” 

Doctors say poor sleep, dehydration and lack of exercise can also contribute to brain fog. This condition affects individuals capability to problem solve.

Fogel Schneider says that brain fog can lift in several weeks following the viral infection that brought it on. Staying hydrated, getting proper rest, exercising and eating healthy can assist in reducing the brain fog. 

Doctors urge people suffering from these symptoms to reach out to local doctors for assistance to combat this issue. 

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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Shay Lawson

MECCA, Calif. (KESQ)  – Galilee Center helped families gear up for the school year with its annual Backpack Distribution Giveaway on Thursday at the center’s location in Mecca.

Organizers said more than 900 backpacks were handed out.

Each backpack includes age-appropriate items like notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue sticks and folders.

Organizers said Bighorn Golf Club provided a grant that’s helping the nonprofit distribute hundreds of backpacks.

“This event is more than just handing out backpacks,” Claudia Castorena, co-founder of Galilee Center said.  “It’s a chance to show the children in our community that we believe in them and are here to support their education.”

To sign up or make a monetary donation, visit www.galileecenter.org or call 760-396-9100.

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Jesus Reyes

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A San Jacinto man was arrested on suspicion of dressing up as staff at a local hospital to steal medical supplies on three separate occasions.

Deputies were called to Eisenhower Health on Bob Hope Drive in Rancho Mirage on July 9 regarding a theft of medical equipment, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (RSO).

RSO officials said that in three separate incidents in June and July 2025, the suspect stole more than $100,000 worth of surgical equipment and skin grafts, wearing blue scrubs and a surgical mask to blend in with hospital personnel and avoid detection as he gained access to restricted areas of the facility.

During the investigation, deputies were able to identify the suspect as Jason Brauner, 47, of San Jacinto.

Brauner was found on Wednesday while traveling southbound toward San Diego. Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office detained Brauner and searched his vehicle, where stolen medical equipment and stolen hospital apparel was located.

A search warrant was served at Brauner’s home that same day, where authorities recovered additional stolen medical supplies valued between $10,000 and $25,000.

Brauner was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center. His charges include grand theft, commercial burglary, and possession of stolen property. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday at the Larson Justice Center.

RSO revealed that the suspect was found to be connected to similar thefts at hospitals in Loma Linda and Newport Beach. Other agencies are currently in the process of filing additional charges related to those incidents.

There may also be additional victims.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact Deputy Marco Castaneda at the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station at (760) 836–1600.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A felon accused of stealing an e-bicycle in Rancho Mirage and fleeing from sheriff’s deputies while armed was charged today with burglary and other offenses, while a Coachella woman was charged with conspiring with him.

Ruben Murillo Galindo Jr. and Esther Cordova Montoya, both 42, were arrested last month following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation that began in early June.

Both Galindo and Montoya were charged with the felony burglary count, but Galindo alone was charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, resisting arrest and a sentence-enhancing allegation of perpetrating a crime while on bail. Montoya alone was charged with parole violations.

Galindo pleaded not guilty Thursday during an arraignment before Superior Court Judge Arthur Hester, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Aug. 18 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. The defendant is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Montoya, who is free on a $35,000 bond, is slated for arraignment on Sept. 8.  

According to sheriff’s Sgt. James Mills, on the morning of June 7, Galindo allegedly broke into a residence on Via Del Rossi in Rancho Mirage, removed the owner’s e-bike and fled, allegedly with Montoya’s help.

Security surveillance video cameras at the property recorded the theft from beginning to end, Mills alleged.   

He said Burglary Suppression Team investigators identified Montoya first, and she was taken into custody without incident after a search warrant was served at her residence on July 25 in the 51400 block of Ponderosa Drive. She posted bond within a couple of days and was released from jail.

Galindo was identified as the alleged burglar less than a week later, and he was tracked down in the area of Seventh Street and Orchard Avenue in Coachella on July 31.

Mills said when deputies confronted him, he tried to flee on a bike, discarding a “bag containing a loaded firearm and ammunition” in the process.

Deputies took him into custody without further incident moments later.   

Details on the defendants’ prior convictions were not available.

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Spencer Blum

Some brutal and record-breaking temperatures were recorded in the Coachella Valley on Thursday. Palm Springs, Indio, Thermal, and Borrego Springs all broke—or tied—daytime high records, with Palm Springs hitting a scorching 119°. That officially tied the day as the hottest of 2025 so far.

Tomorrow won’t be as brutal, but still dangerously hot—5-8° above average.

Trying to find early morning relief? Hah! Don’t let our overnight “lows” fool you, our coolest temps this morning were still hotter than the highs in many major cities across the country!

An Extreme Heat Warning, along with a First Alert Weather Alert, remains in place through tomorrow evening as highs stay above 115°F.

All this heat comes as a result of a persistent ridge of high pressure over the desert southwest. Because of the persistent heat, we are tracking the buildup of Ozone here at the surface. As a result, the South Coast AQMD has issued an Air Quality Alert for ozone through 8 PM Saturday evening.

It is staying HOT in the valley for the foreseeable future. Even as temperatures fall from their extreme highs today, there isn’t much improvement. Highs will stay well above the average and above 110°F.

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