Category: kesq-local-news

City News Service

BANNING, Calif. (KESQ) – A convicted felon accused of gunning down a 50-year-old man in a drive-by attack on the edge of the Morongo Indian Reservation northeast of Banning pleaded not guilty today to first-degree murder and other charges.

Robert Eugene Leonard, 43, of Beaumont, was arrested last month following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation into the slaying of Orlando Lara of Banning.

Along with murder, Leonard is charged with being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, being in possession of controlled substances while armed, a special circumstance allegation of perpetrating a murder in a drive-by and sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

He was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Jay Kiel, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Aug. 6 at the Banning Justice Center.   

The defendant is being held without bail at the Robert Presley Jail.    Lara’s remains were discovered by passers-by shortly before 11 p.m. on June 25 in the 47000 block of Morongo Road, near Cottonwood Road, along the upper boundary of the reservation, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Alberto Loureiro.  

“Upon arrival, deputies found the male with a traumatic injury,” Loureiro said, confirming there were “obvious signs” the victim had been shot to death.

The likely circumstances and motive were not disclosed.   

Within two days, Central Homicide Unit detectives gathered sufficient evidence pointing to Leonard as the alleged shooter.   

He was tracked to a residence on the reservation, where he was taken into custody without incident on June 27.   

Court records did not list Leonard’s prior convictions, which occurred in another jurisdiction.

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Allie Anthony

LA QUINTA, Calif. (KESQ) – A national youth golf tour backed by NBA superstar Steph Curry is making a stop right here in the Coachella Valley.

The “Underrated Golf” tour is about more than just winning on the green, it’s about building life skills and empowering underserved youth.

Nearly 100 talented golfers have qualified to travel with the Underrated tour, gaining the opportunity to compete on elite courses and learn from golf legends.

Steph Curry is a basketball icon, but his passion for golf led him to want to help kids. He understood how expensive and inaccessible the sport can be.

The tour covers all costs for young athletes.

College golf coaches are scouting talent at Underrated tournaments, too.

One youth golfer says he’s playing his best in hopes of getting noticed and earning a spot on the college team. Duncan Reid says, “Honestly, a lot of coaches are looking at these leader boards, so just go out there and play your golf. People are paying attention to this because it’s on such a big stage. So you’re just going out there and trying to focus on your game.”

After a stop at PGA West in La Quinta, players will compete at TPA Sawgrass in Vedra Beach, Florida, then head to Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey.

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Jesus Reyes

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a missing man last seen last week in Cabazon.

Benjamin Cole, 42, was last seen July 9 at his residence in the 51000 block of Ida Avenue, near Peach Street, on the south edge of the unincorporated community, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities said Cole did not inform loved ones where he was headed, and his whereabouts remained unknown Thursday.

Cole is described as five feet, 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing all dark clothing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Riverside County Sheriff’s office at 800-950-2444.

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Peter Daut

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ)– The World Health Organization just announced this week that they want all countries to help make a breakthrough HIV drug reach people as quickly and safely as possible.

The drug’s nickname is “Len,” and it only needs to be injected twice a year to offer near-total protection from the virus and developing aids.

The FDA recently approved the drug, but it carries a price tag of more than $28,000 per person per year, making it unaffordable to most people.

Local doctors say a more affordable, generic version could soon become reality.

Dr. Phyllis Ritchie, CEO & founder says, “The potentials are huge, because the question is if we have a prep like that, do we even need to work on an HIV vaccine, and those are all the questions that are being brought up presently. But we have to wait and see if insurance companies will actually pay for it.” 

Right now, doctors say there are only a few people in the valley taking the drug.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information.

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Garrett Hottle

CHIRIACO SUMMIT, Calif. (KESQ) History is hard to miss along I-10 in Riverside County — especially when it’s made of steel.

The General Patton Memorial Museum has unveiled its newest addition: a massive M59 armored personnel carrier, recently donated to the museum and now on display in the tank yard.

The vehicle joins a fleet of restored M48 AND M47 tanks, but stands out for its size and function.

The M59 is an American armored personnel carrier that entered into service in 1954, replacing the M75. It’s currently on display at the General Patton Memorial Museum.

“This could actually take a Jeep inside of it,” museum’s co-founder and president, Margit F. Chiriaco Rusche, explained.

Margit F. Chiriaco Rusche, Co-Founder and President of the General Patton Memorial Museum speaking with News Channel Three’s Garrett Hottle

Chiriaco Rusche, said the site began humbly in 1985 with a single flagpole, a map, and a commitment to patriotism. By 1988, the museum officially opened — fittingly on November 11, which is both Veterans Day and the birthday of General George S. Patton.

Rusche also recalled her family’s personal connection to Patton. During World War II, her father raised concerns about the water quality being used to train troops in the desert.

Patton’s legendary response: “You run your business, I’ll run the war.”

Rusche also recalled her family’s personal connection to Patton. During World War II, her father raised concerns about the water quality being used to train troops in the desert.Patton’s legendary response: “You run your business, I’ll run the war.”

This week, Rusche shared the museum floor with Chuck Montgomery, executive director of the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix — the largest firefighting museum in the world. Montgomery visited the Patton Museum for the first time, despite his museum’s brochures being featured there for years.

Chuck Montgomery, executive director of the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix

During the visit, Montgomery spoke about a fire truck from the 9/11 attacks — one of 350 lost that day — which his team was able to acquire and restore to original condition. Also on site was a Soviet firefighting vehicle once used for both riot control and emergency response.

Looking ahead, the museum is preparing for its annual Veterans Day celebration.

Guests are invited to take part in a community tribute by picking up a rock from the museum to paint and return. The painted rocks will be placed in the Memory Garden to honor fallen service members and heroes. Rocks are free through November 12.

From tanks to tributes, the General Patton Memorial Museum continues to grow as a living legacy in the Coachella Valley.

For more information about the General Patton Memorial Museum, including their upcoming events and how to participate, visit this link.

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Cynthia White

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)–News Channel 3, in partnership with SunLine Transit Agency, hosted a successful 11th Annual ‘Pack the Bus’ Drive on Thursday at Walmart in Palm Desert. 

News Channel 3, along with SunLine Transit Agency, Alpha Media, and Walmart called on the community to pack the SunLine bus with donated school supplies to benefit local families.

SunLine Transit Agency Director of Board and Legislative Affairs Edith Hernandez happily reports that kind donators completely filled the bus with a total of 600 backpacks and 1,500 books.

Hernandez says, “How impressive is this showing… It’s so impressive to see everybody coming together, coming for one cause. We wanted to make an impact, and this certainly makes an impact.” She adds, “We’re going to make a lot of kids very, very happy.”

In addition to backpacks and books, donations included notebooks, crayons, markers, pencils, scissors, calculators and more.

All donations made at the event will be taken to this year’s “Pack the Bus” nonprofit partner, the Boys and Girls Club of Cathedral City, where all of the supplies will be distributed.

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Haley Meberg

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ)– A Palm Desert man was arrested in connection to multiple burglaries, firearm and narcotic related charges Tuesday evening. 

Tuesday morning at approximately 7:00 a.m., deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station responded to a call reporting a residential burglary on the 44500 block of Portola Avenue in Palm Desert. 

Authorities said, the residents of the house reported a 51-year-old man knocked on the door then proceeded to enter their home and steal items before fleeing the scene. 

It was reported several other “cat” burglaries had taken place throughout the city, causing the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station Robbery and Burglary Team (RBST) to open an investigation in which they determined the same suspect was responsible.

At 7:00 p.m. later that night, RBST, along with the City of Palm Desert District Team served the 51-year-old suspect with a warrant. During the service of the search warrant multiple items consistent with narcotic sales, suspected cocaine, several hundred vials of growth hormones and two unregistered firearms were located.

The alleged burglar was booked into Benoit Detention Center in Indio but was released Wednesday on $70,000 bail. 

A court date is set for August 20th at the Indio Larsen Justice Center for the suspects arraignment. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Sanchez of the Palm Desert Station at (760) 836-1600. 

Riverside County Sheriff’s Office (RSO) reports that “cat” burglaries garner a higher level of concern for law enforcement due to higher levels of risk to victims. The RSO reminds residents to lock doors and windows even when home to help keep the city safe.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more updates.

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KESQ News Team

Beaumont, Calif. (KESQ) -Beaumont named Christopher Ramos as the city’s new chief of police.

Ramos takes over for Sean Thuilliez, who led the department for nearly 10 years before his departure in February.

City officials said Ramos emerged as the “clear choice” for the position after an extensive selection process, which included multiple interview panels made up of community members and law enforcement professionals.

“The City of Beaumont looks forward to the continued progress and leadership of Chief Ramos, a family-centered and dedicated Beaumont leader, as he serves the Beaumont Police Department and the community it protects,” said Mayor Mike Lara.

Ramos is a 24-year-old veteran of law enforcement, including 20 years with the city of Beaumont. He started off as a patrol officer and has served in nearly every division of the department. He has most recently served as captain.

City officials said Ramos has led major department initiatives that have enhanced both efficiency and public safety. His leadership was instrumental in launching a new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS), and in securing grant funding for a multi-million-dollar regional radio communications upgrade—strengthening emergency response capabilities across the region.

As the department’s first Administrative Sergeant, Ramos shaped policies and training programs, managed grant-funded initiatives, and served as the City’s Emergency Services Coordinator—playing a key role in the department’s strategic direction and preparedness. 

Chief Ramos holds a Master of Science in Law Enforcement and Public Safety Leadership from the University of San Diego and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He is a graduate of the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute and is currently enrolled in POST Command College. He serves on the California Police Chiefs Association Board of Directors as an Associate Director and remains actively engaged in several professional and community-oriented organizations.  

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Tori King

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)– The City of Indio is set to open a time capsule that has been sealed for two decades. The 20-year-old time capsule was sealed back in 2005.

The special event will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. in the Indio City Hall Council Chambers, located at 150 Civic Center Drive. 

The city says the event both honors the past and will reshape the future through a new initiative. During Wednesday’s ceremony, the city will also launch a new time capsule initiative titled: Moments in Time.

News Channel 3′ Tori King will be there to catch all of the action. See her reports at 4, 5 and 6.

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City News Service

UPDATE: 7/21/25 11:30 A.M. – CAL FIRE reports that the Dale Fire remains at 1,096 acres and is now 95% contained. As of Sunday afternoon, the last evacuation order that remained was downgraded to an evacuation warning for the affected areas. CAL FIRE reports, “Crews will continue working through the night extending containment lines, griding the interior of the fire and validating existing lines from anyhidden smoldering pockets.”

UPDATE: 7/18/25 7:00 P.M. – CAL FIRE reports that the fire remains at 1,096 acres and is 45% contained. Crews will continue through the night working hotspots and reinforcing the lines.

UPDATE: 7/18/25 8:36 A.M.- CAL FIRE reports that the Dale Fire is now 34% contained at 1,096 acres. Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation and evacuation orders are still in place.

UPDATE: 7/17/25 3:15 P.M. – A five-acre fire triggered by lightning in Anza is being incorporated into the Dale Fire in Aguanga, CAL FIRE announced.

[UPDATE @ 3:00 p.m.]: The fire is being incorporated into the #DaleFIRE. Visit the link below for further updates.👇🔗https://t.co/3uxBz2BXZ7

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) July 17, 2025

UPDATE: 7/17/25 6:30 A.M. – Highway 371 is back open in all directions. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

UPDATE: 7/16/25 9:54 P.M. – CAL FIRE is mapping the Dale Fire at 1,072 acres, and report that crews are making good progress on the perimeter of the fire. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.

Per CAL FIRE:

Evacuation Orders:

CBI-CAHUILLA1

RVC-LAKERIVERSIDEESTATES4

RVC-TABLEMT4

RVC-TABLEMT5

RVC-2327

RVC-TULE1

RVC-TULE2

RVC-TULE4

RVC-TULE6

RVC-TULE7

RVC-TULE8

Evacuation Warnings:

RVC-2280-B

RVC-2369

RVC-TABLEMT3

RVC-TABLEMT6

RVC-TULE3

RVC-TULE5

AGUANGA, Calif. (KESQ) – Two brush fires that erupted Wednesday less than a mile apart in Aguanga were combined to be called the Dale Fire, scorching over 1,000 acres, destroying several structures, prompting evacuations and forcing the closure of a highway.

The blazes were reported at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday — the first in the area of Riverdale Drive and Highway 371, the second about three-quarters of a mile to the south at Bradford Road and Gelding Way — according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The fire was earlier mapped at 330.4 acres by FIRIS Intel 24. 

#DaleFIRE [UPDATE 2:30PM]: The fire is now 220 acres.

Evacuations ORDERS are in place for the following zones:RVC-TULE1RVC-TULE2RVC-TULE4RVC-TULE6RVC-TULE7RVC-TULE8RVC-2327RVC-LAKERIVERSIDEESTATES4RVC-TABLEMT4RVC-TABLEMT5CBI-CAHUILLA-1

Evacuation WARNINGS are in… pic.twitter.com/NYH0gLwgsb

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) July 16, 2025

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county and surrounding agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate at the larger brusher along Riverdale.

At least two structures, possibly vacant outbuildings, were consumed by the flames, according to officials at the scene. The second fire at Bradford was slower but also damaged two to three structures, burning two to three acres, officials said. The forward rate of spread on that blaze was stopped by 1:45 p.m.

Seven Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the larger fire at 1:10 p.m. The flames continued progressing in the direction of Cahuilla Creek Motocross and the Cahuilla Casino Hotel, both south of Highway 371, about 1.5 miles to the east of the brushed.

Evacuation orders were implemented by sheriff’s deputies for properties southeast of the Lake Riverside Estates. The motocross track, casino and properties along the boundary of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation were under evacuation warnings as of 2 p.m.

Both sides of Highway 371 were shut down for public safety between the casino turnoff at Homestead Road to the east and Barbara Trail to the west, spanning roughly seven miles.

There was no immediate word regarding how the fires started.

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