Category: kesq-local-news

Athena Jreij

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) — A high-speed chase through the Coachella Valley ended with an attempted murder suspect in custody.

The Desert Hot Springs Police Department posted the wild video of the chase to their social media account, commenting, “Another dangerous individual off the streets thanks to the proactive work of our officers.”

Officials say it all began on September 3rd, when officers spotted the suspect behind the wheel of a vehicle. When deputies tried to pull him over, the driver refused to stop and led officers on a pursuit that topped over 100 miles per hour on the freeway.

The chase eventually ended at a home where the suspect jumped out and ran from officers.

He was tased and was taken into custody. Authorities say he’s now facing multiple felony charges, including attempted murder.

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Timothy Foster

CHERRY VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) — A young man is dead and a woman hospitalized after a two-vehicle crash involving a Riverside County Sheriff’s deputy on Saturday morning.

The collision occurred at approximately 10:03 a.m. on September 6, 2025, at the intersection of Cherry Valley Boulevard and Roberts Street.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash involved a 2018 Tesla Model 3, driven by 21-year-old male from Cherry Valley, and a 2018 Ford Explorer patrol vehicle driven by a 41-year-old male deputy from the Cabazon Station.

Authorities say the deputy was responding to a call for service with emergency lights and sirens activated, traveling westbound on Cherry Valley Boulevard. At the same time, the Tesla was stopped at the intersection, southbound on Roberts Street. For reasons still under investigation, the Tesla made a left turn onto Cherry Valley Boulevard and was broadsided by the oncoming patrol SUV.

The 21-year-old male was pronounced dead at the scene. His passenger, a 20-year-old female, also of Cherry Valley, was transported to a local hospital with major injuries.

The deputy suffered minor injuries and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Investigators say alcohol or drugs do not appear to be factors, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Athena Jreij

JURUPA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – Fire crews are battling a 500+ acre brush fire in Jurupa Valley this weekend.

Cal Fire officials say the Pyrite Fire began Friday afternoon around 5 p.m. near Pyrite Street and Granite Hills Drive, spreading quickly in the hills above the 60 freeway.

As of Saturday evening, the fire stands at 521 acres with 10% containment.

Nearly 300 fire personnel have been deployed to contain the flames. Evacuation orders and warnings have been issued and some still remain in place this evening.

An emergency shelter for evacuees has been set up at Jurupa Valley High School. Pets and animals can be taken to Riverside County West Animal Shelter on Van Buren Blvd.

There are no reports of injuries or damage to structures at this time. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Stick with News Channel 3 as we continue to follow this story.

Current evacuation orders according to CalFire:

Evacuation ORDERS for the following zones have been DOWNGRADED to WARNINGS:

JUR-0017

JUR-0018

JUR-0019

JUR-0031

The Evacuation WARNINGS have been lifted and return to normal status for the following zones:

JUR-0034

JUR-0036

JUR-0020

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Shay Lawson

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ)  – The search continues for the suspect who killed a 17-year-old boy and wounded two other adolescent males in a shooting early August.

Riverside County Sheriff’s identified the 17-year-old boy as Alberto Castillo Jr.

The shooting unfolded August 2nd, when deputies said they were dispatched around 4 a.m. to the 49000 block of Corte Molino for a report of an assault with a deadly weapon.

When they arrived, they found three men suffering from gunshot wounds and began performing life-saving measures.

Castillo Jr. died at the scene. The two other victims were taken to local hospitals for medical treatment in critical condition.

No arrests have been made, and investigators have not released information about possible suspects.

The Sheriff’s Office said the investigation remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Homicide Unit Master Investigator Castaneda at (951) 955-2777 or Thermal Station Investigator Glasper at (760) 863-8990

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Shay Lawson

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) – The Powerball jackpot has soared to an estimated $1.8 billion.

It is the second-largest lottery prize ever in the United States, just behind the $2.04 billion jackpot won in California in November 2022.  

The latest draw comes after 41 straight drawings without a jackpot winner, fueling the leap from $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion ahead of Saturday’s drawing.  

The two main options for lottery winners are the lump sum and the annuity payment methods.

The estimated cash value is approximately $826.4 million before taxes.  

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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City News Service

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – A 22-year-old man accused of gunning down an Indio resident during a confrontation outside a home must stand trial on first-degree murder and other charges, a judge ruled today.  

Ruben Molina was arrested last year following an Indio Police Department investigation into the slaying of 23-year-old Carlos Arriaga.  

At the end of a preliminary hearing Friday, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Anthony Villalobos found there was sufficient evidence to bound Molina over for trial on the murder count, illegal possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations, as well as an allegation of perpetrating a crime while on bail.

The judge scheduled a post-preliminary hearing arraignment for Sept. 18 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.

Molina is being held on $2 million bail at the Benoit Detention Center.

According to the Indio Police Department, in the predawn hours of Aug. 24, 2024, the defendant was involved in an unspecified confrontation with Arriaga at a property in the 80000 block of Jennifer Court, just east of Clinton Street.

During the encounter, Molina allegedly pulled a handgun and opened fire, mortally wounding the victim, police said.

A possible motive was not disclosed.

As witnesses called 911, the defendant fled the location, according to investigators.

Arriaga was taken to nearby Desert Regional Medical Center, where he died a short time later.

Detectives developed leads within a few hours pointing to Molina as the alleged shooter, and he was taken into custody without incident on Avenue 44 in Indio that morning.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

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Peter Daut

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Tonight, a News Channel 3 exclusive: the life and legacy of Harold Matzner, in his own words.

Matzner died Thursday at Eisenhower Health after a battle with an illness.

News Channel 3’s Peter Daut recently spoke with Matzner in what ended up being his final interview.

Matzner was unable to do the interview with Peter in person because of health issues, but he still took the time to speak with me by phone. Little did we know it would be his very last interview.

Coming up at 6 p.m., we’ll have part two of our exclusive interview with Matzner, including his thoughts on the future of philanthropy here in the Coachella Valley.

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Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – Riverside University Health System – Public Health (RUHS-PH) department reported Friday that an Indio High School student has tested positive for tuberculosis.

RUHS-PH officials say they are making efforts to notify anyone who may have been exposed to the disease, and add that the student is receiving treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

RUHS-PH worked with Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD) officials to send exposure notification letters to guardians, faculty and staff members of students who may have had on-going contact with the individual in April through the end of May.

Riverside County Public Health Officer Jennifer Chevinsky says, “Our team is working closely with the school to identify anyone who may have had close contact with the student and ensure they receive appropriate testing and follow-up care. Given the rise in tuberculosis cases we’ve seen in our county, this is an important reminder that TB disease is both preventable and treatable.”

TB testing will be offered for individuals who may have been exposed. If the test is positive, the individual will be sent for a chest X-ray and then follow up with Public Health. If the chest X-ray shows no disease in the lungs, treatment for latent TB infection is recommended to prevent progression to active TB illness.

Faculty, staff and parents or guardians of students who are not considered at-risk were notified of the potential TB exposure and informed that no further action was needed.

DSUSD Public Information Officer Tamara Wadkins says, “Desert Sands Unified School District is committed to the health and safety of our students and staff. Counseling services are available to assist any student or staff member who may feel unsettled during this time.”

TB is a disease caused by bacteria that is spread through the air during prolonged, repeated and close contact with someone who has infectious TB disease.  In most cases, people infected with TB have a latent infection that has no symptoms, is not contagious, and does not progress to active TB disease, especially with the appropriate treatment. Symptoms of active TB can include a persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss.

In Riverside County, 98 active TB cases were reported last year, an increase from 63 cases in 2023.

For more information, contact RUHS –PH Disease Control at 951-358-5107.

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Cynthia White

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KESQ) – A felony parolee who is a former employee of a Beaumont group home for boys is back behind bars, accused of lewd acts with a child.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office reports that 33 year old David Sanabria was arrested Thursday and charged with lewd acts with a child and oral copulation with a child under the age of 14.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office

Sanabria was first arrested in 2022 and later convicted for inappropriate contact with clients of the Beaumont group home and possession of sexually explicit materials involving children.

Authorities say they reopened the original investigation into Sanabria, on felony probation for the earlier conviction, after two additional juvenile victims stepped forward in May of this year. Investigators learned the two juveniles were victims of inappropriate contact at the group home before Sanabria’s 2022 arrest.

Investigators located Sanabria in Corona on Thursday, and say he was taken into custody without incident and Booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit believes there may be additional victims and encourages anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact Master Investigator J. Andrade at 951-955-1701 or Riverside Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951-776-1099.

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Athena Jreij

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – La Quinta City Councilman Steve Sanchez is proposing the formation of a new coalition in the desert, the Coachella Valley Veterans Coalition, or CVVC.

Sanchez says the coalition would serve as a gathering-place for local veterans to advocate for their rights as a unified force.

He’s hoping to gather opinions and propose the formation by October.

“The mission of the CVVC is to unite all Veteran groups under one unified voice—leveraging our collective strength to better advocate for and serve our Veterans. The coalition will also act as a central hub, connecting Veterans, their families, and the community to the resources offered by our member organizations,” Sanchez said.

The date of the first meeting will be set based on responses submitted through the following link: doodle.com/group-poll/participate/aKEQZwrd.

Tonight, News Channel 3 checks in with local veterans on what concerns they hope the coalition could address and what veterans in the valley are in need of now.

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