Two accused child smugglers arrested at Highway 86 checkpoint

KESQ on April 11, 2025

Cynthia White

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – U.S. Border Patrol agents at the El Centro Sector arrested two United States citizens on Tuesday, accusing them of attempting to smuggle two children illegally into the U.S.

Agents report an SUV approached the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint, driven by a woman accompanied by another woman in the front passenger seat. Two girls were sleeping in the rear passenger seats.  

The driver told Border Patrol agents they were traveling from Arizona to California but later admitted they crossed into the United States from Mexico through the San Luis Port of Entry in Arizona. Agents noted the discrepancies in the driver’s story and sent the vehicle to secondary inspection. 

Agents reviewed the children’s documents and determined the children’s photos and names did not match those on the identification cards. They also learned the children were not related to the driver or passenger and the driver did not know the children’s mother. After further questioning, agents discovered the two children, ages 10 and 12, were unaccompanied minors from Mexico.

“And this, folks, is how the trafficking of children starts,” said Chief Patrol Agent Gregory K. Bovino of the El Centro Sector. “It’s almost unbearable to think about what heinous crimes await children who aren’t with their parents. The border environment has been rife with this type of activity over the past several years, however, the focus has now shifted, and heavy sentences await smugglers who hurt kids.”

Both the driver and the adult passenger are facing charges of Alien Smuggling. The vehicle was seized as evidence.

Stay with News Channel 3 for any updates to this story.

DAP Health promotes harm prevention during Coachella Weekends

KESQ on April 11, 2025

Allie Anthony

As festival season kicks off, DAP Health is taking proactive steps to promote harm reduction by distributing life-saving tools like narcan and fentanyl test strips.

Each day, DAP will be stationed at the Palm Springs Convention Center, where they will be handing out free tools. It expects to hand out over 1,100 doses of narcan and 2,400 fentanyl test strips.

“Best case scenario you’re gonna check the drugs first,” says Neil Gussardo, the Community Health Harm Reduction Supervisor from DAP Health. “You can save a life by using Narcan.”

Drug overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, according to the CDC. This year alone, DAP Health has already reported 728 overdose reversals thanks to narcan they’ve provided.

According to Gussardo, here is the proper way to use narcan. “First yell hey wake up. Next, you’re going to want to cause pain, do a hard sternum rub. If they’re still non-responsive, you open Narcan, it’s easy to apply. Once you’ve done one shot, you really wanna call 911.”

Coachella ride-along with IPD, alternate routes for residents

KESQ on April 11, 2025

María García

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — The first day of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is here, residents are encouraged to take alternative routes.

The Indio Police Department recommends residents to use side streets like: Dr. Carreon Boulevard, Highway 111 and further north. For south of the Empire Polo Grounds it is recommended to use Avenue 53 and Avenue 54.

During peak hours ranging from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and then 10 P.M. till as late as 3 A.M. there will be delays.

“It is best for residents to plan accordingly, give yourself some extra time to arrive to your destination,” said Public Information officer, Sergeant Abraham Plata.

Stay with News Channel to hear more about alternate routes recommended by IPD.

One Dead, One Injured in Early Morning Palm Desert House Fire

KESQ on April 11, 2025

Julia Castro

PALM DESERT, Calif. — One person is dead and another is in serious condition after a fire broke out early Friday morning in a Palm Desert home.

Firefighters responded to reports of a house fire shortly after 1:00 a.m. in the Del Webb community, located off Washington Street, north of the I-10 freeway. The blaze engulfed a single-story residence on Tamarisk Flower Drive, on the eastern side of the development.

Upon arrival, crews found the home fully involved in flames. Firefighters found two individuals inside the burning structure. One was transported to a local hospital in serious condition. The other was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.

Stay with News Channel 3 for new developments.

How to beat the traffic getting to and from Coachella

KESQ on April 11, 2025

Allie Anthony

Weekend 1 of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival officially kicks off today. As festival goers travel in, expect some road closures and delays.

Closures include:

Avenue 49 between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street

Avenue 50 between Madison Street and Jackson Street

Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50

Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52

On each Monday following the festivals, streets surrounding the festival site and Interstate 10 will be busy with more than 40,000 campers leaving the area. Expect delays and be prepared to use these alternate routes.

North and south travel, use Washington Street, Jackson Street, Calhoun Street and Golf Center Parkway

East and west travel, use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54

For festival goers, it’s important to note the best times to travel to and from the festival grounds. According to data collected by DoorDash, the best time to arrive to the festival is before 3 p.m. At 2 p.m. only 1/4 of Lyft-taking Coachella attendees have arrived, but by 4 p.m., the number climbs to 2/3. To avoid a late night, leave by 10 p.m. Otherwise, you might end up waiting in traffic that typically doesn’t die down until 3 a.m

As for the best place to get picked up, DoorDash data shows that the southwest corner of the Coachella venue (at the intersection of Avenue 52 and Madison Street) has the shortest average wait time. Pickups take 50% longer if you call from the upper right-hand corner of the venue (at the intersection of Monroe Street and Avenue 49).

Stay with News Channel 3 all weekend for live updates from the festival.

Indio traffic plan and street closures for music festival season

KESQ on April 11, 2025

Jesus Reyes

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – The city of Indio announced anticipated street impacts, transportation details, and recommended alternative routes in preparation for the 2025 Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals in April.

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival will be held at the Empire Polo Club on April 11–13 and April 18–20, 2025. Stagecoach: California’s Country Music Festival will follow on April 25–27, 2025.

Avenue 50 between Monroe Street and Madison Avenue will be closed from Monday, March 24, through Monday, May 5. City officials said the closure is necessary to ensure the safety of workers, residents, and commuters.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes, including Highway 111, Dr. Carreon Boulevard, Avenue 48, and Avenue 52, to avoid delays.

The following streets will be primary access routes for the festivals on the following days: April 11-13; April 18-20; and April 25-27, but significant traffic is expected:

Jefferson Street, southbound, from Interstate 10 to Avenue 52

Washington Street, southbound, from I-10 to Avenue 52

Monroe Street, southbound, from I-10 to Avenue 52

Avenue 48 between Jefferson and Jackson streets

Highway 111 at Jefferson Street

Highway 111 at Monroe Street

I-10 exit eastbound at Jefferson Street

I-10 exit eastbound at Monroe Street

I-10 exit eastbound at Washington Street

On each Friday of the festivals through each Monday, the following roads will be closed:

Avenue 49 between Hjorth Street and Monroe Street

Avenue 50 between Madison Street and Jackson Street

Hjorth Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 50

Madison Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52

Expect the following additional delays:

On each Monday following the festivals, streets surrounding the festival site and Interstate 10 will be busy with more than 40,000 campers leaving the area.

Consider the following alternate routes:

North and south travel, use Washington Street, Jackson Street, Calhoun Street and Golf Center Parkway

East and west travel, use Highway 111, Fred Waring Drive, Miles Avenue, Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 54

Uber Location:

Avenue 49 and Monroe Street on the southwest corner

Friends & Family/Taxi Drop Off & Pick Up:

Avenue 52 and Madison Street on the northeast corner

NO pedestrian or pedestrian festival access:

Monroe Street between Avenue 49 and Avenue 52

Madison Street between Avenue 50 and Avenue 52

Approved pedestrian access:

Corner of Avenue 49 and Monroe Street

Corner of Avenue 52 and Madison Street

Corner of Avenue 52 and Monroe Street

Corner of Avenue 50 and Madison Street

Additional notes:

Golf carts are not permitted on any of the above-listed streets.

Approximately 40,000 guests will be shuttled into and out of the concert venue from various locations throughout the Coachella Valley to help ease traffic conditions.

Noise from the festival site could begin on each Thursday prior to the festival dates, due to sound checks and on-site camping guests.

For concert logistics, questions, or issues, call 760-391-4112 or email concertinfo@indio.org.

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Three Desert Sands Unified students awarded full scholarships to top schools

KESQ on January 21, 2025

Cynthia White

Three students from Desert Sands Unified School District are going to top colleges next year through a program that helps high achieving students from low income backgrounds find a school they could potentially “match” with.

Out of over 25,000 applicants to the Questbridge National Match Scholarship program, Palm Desert High School students Zack Blandon-Smalaj and David Kang, and Indio High School student Vanessa Lemus were selected as matches.

Zach Blandon Smalaj will be going to Rice University, David Kang will be attending Princeton University, and Vanessa Lemus will be a student at Columbia University in the fall.

QuestBridge partners with 52 of the nation’s top colleges to award full 4-year scholarships. The National Match application gives students extra space to tell their unique story on how they excelled academically despite financial hardship.

Local firefighters continue to help combat the Los Angeles fires

KESQ on January 21, 2025

Tori King

A crew from the Cathedral City Fire Department continues to work on the front lines to help combat the massive fires in Los Angeles County.

The CCFD crew has been in LA County for nine days straight. Photos and video show our local crews working to put out flames, clear brush and help to sift through debris.

News Channel 3’s Tori King spoke with our local out at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, who told her they’re exhausted. They said it’s been emotionally draining, but you can see them smiling in some of the pictures as they’re trying to keep their spirits up.

They added that fighting the flames is pretty much over and that their crew is now working on clean up and debris removal as well as sifting through buildings that have been burned to the foundation. They said that they have a lot of work ahead.

“I’ve been coming on these fires for a lot of years, and this is the worst devastation that I’ve ever experienced. The number of homes just in Altadena alone, I, they haven’t finished totaling it up, but they’re thinking it’s going to be over 6,000 homes and businesses and schools that have been destroyed,” said of the CCFD Chief Craig Sanborn. “It’s nice that we’re not so far out in the wilderness, that we do have self-worth theft, and so we’re able to speak to our wives, our loved ones, and communicate with the chief back home, and let them know what we’re doing and that we’re doing good, and we’re hanging in there. And, you know, we’re just making good progress.”

Crews worked to make sure that everybody is safe enough to the point where they could bring evacuees back into the area at some point, there is no timeline on that just yet.

Firefighters have been working off and on for 48 hours straight, but they do get a 24 hour break Thursday night. Crews said they’re going to be resting up and getting plenty of sleep and hopefully having a nice warm meal.

They also say a lot of locals around here have been extremely grateful and compassionate and just expressing their gratitude for them coming all the way out here to help fight the fires.

Collectively there are over 7500 fire and emergency crews all over LA County tackling the Palisades fire, the Eaton fire, and the Hearst fire.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing updates on the LA fires.

LASD deputy, a RivCo resident, pleads guilty in assault on transgender man

KESQ on January 21, 2025

City News Service

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy pleaded guilty today to a federal civil rights charge for assaulting a transgender man who was exercising his First Amendment rights by “flipping off” the lawman.  

Joseph Benza III, 36, of Corona, who was assigned to the Norwalk Station at the time of the February 2023 incident, was charged last month with one felony count of deprivation of rights under color of law.

Benza entered his plea to the civil rights offense, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

A sentencing date of July 25 was scheduled.   

Benza has been relieved of duty, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said at the time the defendant was charged.   

The victim of the assault, a 23-year-old man identified in court documents as E.B., who weighed about half as much as Benza, suffered a concussion, contusions and abrasions, according to court documents.

In his plea agreement, Benza admitted that he was responding to a domestic violence call in Whittier when he saw E.B. drive by and extend his middle finger — an expression that is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

After seeing that he had been “flipped off,” Benza abandoned the domestic violence call and closely followed E.B.’s vehicle for 1.8 miles, intending to retaliate against E.B. with force, according to the plea agreement.   

After calling 911 to report that he was being followed, the victim eventually pulled into a parking lot. Benza then parked behind E.B.’s vehicle and activated his overhead lights for the first time, court papers show.   

The plea agreement states that Benza approached E.B., who was exiting his vehicle. Without giving any commands, Benza grabbed the victim, who pulled away and said, “Don’t touch me.”

Benza admitted in his plea agreement that he “violently body slammed” E.B. onto the ground, then punched his head and face multiple times, and pressed E.B.’s “face into the pavement.”

Later that day, as he began preparing an incident report, Benza consulted with other deputies about whether he should include that he began pursuing E.B. because he had been flipped off. Three LASD sergeants counseled Benza to omit that fact from his report, the plea agreement states.

To cover up his civil rights violations, Benza admitted that he prepared a false incident report that omitted any reference to the flip-off and instead misleadingly stated that E.B. was stopped for having an air freshener hanging from his rearview mirror.

Benza also falsely claimed that E.B. had bitten Benza’s hand with enough force to puncture the skin and cited E.B. with criminal mayhem, prosecutors said.

According to the plea agreement, Benza engaged in other obstructionist conduct by discussing with other deputies how they would delete text messages about the incident from their phones, as well as discussing making false statements to federal authorities who were investigating the incident.

During an interview with federal authorities in January 2024, Benza made false statements, including denying that he had seen E.B. flip him off and that he had not substantively discussed the incident report with others while he was writing it, federal prosecutors said, adding that Benza admitted that a sergeant drafted substantive portions of the report.   

“It is deeply troubling that a member of our department, who has since been relieved of duty, violated the trust placed in them to uphold the law by abusing their authority,” Luna said when charges were filed last month.

“These actions undermine the integrity of our department, the trust of our community, and the safety of those we are sworn to protect.”

Traffic advisory in La Quinta Friday and Saturday during American Express golf tournament

KESQ on January 21, 2025

Cynthia White

The city of La Quinta is issuing a traffic advisory Friday January 17th and Saturday, January 18th in the area of PGA West where the American Express golf tournament and concert series is taking place.

The concerts will begin after golf wraps up on Friday and Saturday, which may create potential traffic issues. The band Little Big Town will be performing on Friday, and Journey will be performing after golf on Saturday.

Closures and detours will be in effect from 2:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on both days.

Below is the closure/detour information from the city:

Road closures:

PGA West Boulevard – No access to or from Avenue 54 or Jefferson

Jefferson – closed from Silverrock to Avenue 54 in both directions

Avenue 54 – closed from Madison to Jefferson in both directions

Detours:

Northbound Madison straight to Avenue 52 and turn left

Westbound Avenue 52 to Jefferson and turn right

Southbound Jefferson – turn left at Avenue 52

Eastbound Avenue 52 – turn right at Madison