Category: kesq-local-news

Haley Meberg

CABAZON, Calif. (KESQ) – Three suspects are under investigation in connection to an organized retail theft in Cabazon on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said the theft took place on the 48000 block of Seminole Drive and was reported to the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station following the suspects leaving a store with approximately $1,000 worth of merchandise.

Through coordinated efforts from the Cabazon Station Patrol deputies, the Cabazon Special Enforcement Team, and security personnel, the three suspects were detained and investigated.

Following the investigation the alleged robbers were estimated to have stolen over approximately $2,000 worth of items across several different stores in the area.

All three suspects are residents from Chula Vista and were arrested and booked into the Smith Correctional Facility for organized retail theft, multiple counts of theft with prior convictions, and conspiracy to commit a crime. No further details have been released at this time.

Anyone with additional information regarding the investigation is urged to contact Deputy Rael at the Cabazon Sheriff’s Station at (951) 922-7100.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more information.

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Haley Meberg

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – An investigation continues following a pedestrian being fatally struck by a vehicle in Yucca Valley on Saturday evening.

Deputies from the Morongo Basin Station, California Highway Patrol and rescue personnel from the San Bernardino County Fire department responded to a call regarding a vehicle that collided with a pedestrian at 10:48 p.m. on Saturday evening.

The incident took place near the intersection of Twentynine Palms Highway and Joshua Lane in Yucca Valley. Deputies concluded the pedestrian had walked into the east bound lane of Twentynine Palms Highway prior to being struck.

When the collision occurred the 62-year old driver stopped and rendered medical aid to the 54-year-old pedestrian until emergency workers arrived. Despite life-saving efforts, the female pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.

At this time local law enforcement does not believe drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident on the part of the driver.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information about the collision is encouraged to contact the Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.

For more information stay with News Channel 3.

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Karen Devine

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) — What began as one Coachella Valley woman’s fight to regain control of her home has grown into a statewide conversation about whether California homeowners have enough protection when signing real estate documents online.

Last month, the KESQ I-Team introduced viewers to 85-year-old Jessie Schumaker, a Palm Desert homeowner who believed she was simply requesting information from an online “cash for houses” company.

Instead, she found herself caught in a legal dispute over her home.

“This is all I have,” Schumaker told the I-Team during our first investigation.

I-Team: Signature Scam? – CV woman says one swipe nearly cost her the home she spent a lifetime paying off

After the I-Team began asking questions and contacted attorney Matthew Corsaut, who represents Evergreen Capital LLC, the legal disputes involving Schumaker’s property were dismissed or resolved, allowing her to move forward.

For Schumaker, the ordeal is over.

For the I-Team, it was just the beginning.

Viewers across California came forward

Almost immediately after our first investigation aired, emails began pouring into the I-Team inbox.

Homeowners.

Attorneys.

Financial advisors.

Real estate professionals.

Many described different situations, but raised remarkably similar concerns involving online real estate transactions and electronic signatures.

Those emails led to weeks of additional reporting, including reviewing lawsuits, corporate filings, licensing records and court documents.

One email came from Ira Frazer, a California attorney and homeowner who is now suing Evergreen Capital LLC.

Frazer says Evergreen agreed to purchase his La Jolla home for $2.2 million. After both sides signed a contract, he says the company attempted to renegotiate the purchase price.

“They’re saying we cannot pay you 2.2. How much would you take less? I said, no, the price is 2.2. I told you that we have a signed contract.”

Frazer says the transaction eventually collapsed. He has since filed a lawsuit seeking damages.

“I was made a fool by this. It’s a matter of principle. If I sign a contract, I have to live by my word. If they sign a contract… they should have to honor it.”

Evergreen Capital LLC has denied wrongdoing in court filings in Frazer’s case, and the litigation remains pending.

Investigation prompts discussion among Realtors

The I-Team also shared its findings with Paul Herrera, Government Affairs Director for the Inland Valleys Association of REALTORS®.

After watching the investigation, Herrera presented the story to approximately two dozen Realtors and brokers during a Housing Policy Committee meeting, asking whether they were seeing similar situations involving homeowners.

The response surprised him.

“The ubiquity of it surprised me.”

Herrera says once the discussion began, Realtors from around the room began sharing similar experiences involving clients.

“Once one started, then the stories came in from all directions.”

Within minutes, the group proposed reviving the Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team, a collaborative working group that previously brought together Realtors, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office, title companies, escrow professionals and other agencies to identify emerging fraud trends.

According to Herrera, that group previously helped identify problems involving California’s PACE financing program.

He says those discussions eventually contributed to legislation, investigations, consumer protection efforts and recovery programs.

The association is now working with county officials, state agencies and lawmakers to restart the group.

Concerns reach Sacramento

The investigation has also drawn the attention of Assemblymember Greg Wallis, who recently hosted a Senior Scam Stopper seminar in Palm Desert.

After watching the I-Team investigation, Wallis said he was surprised by how quickly an electronic signature could potentially affect a homeowner’s property rights.

“I couldn’t believe it could happen like that… It’s really important that we create awareness around that.”

Wallis acknowledged there may be gaps in current law as technology continues to evolve.

“The Legislature has a responsibility here, and we need to figure out how we can close those gaps.”

He says lawmakers are now working with Realtors, consumer advocates and government agencies to examine possible policy changes aimed at better protecting California homeowners.

The investigation continues

What began with one homeowner asking the I-Team for help has now expanded into:

New lawsuits

Renewed conversations about consumer protection

A revived Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team

Discussions about possible legislative changes in California

Frazer’s lawsuit remains pending, and he says he intends to continue pursuing the case.

“No one should be allowed to pick on people and do this.”

The I-Team will continue following the pending litigation, the proposed legislation and the efforts to restart the Real Estate Fraud Advisory Team.

If you’ve experienced a similar issue involving an online real estate transaction, we’d like to hear from you.

Email the I-Team: ITeam@KESQ.com

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Haley Meberg

Update 7/17/26

455 backpacks were donated during the school supply drive.

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PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – SunLine Transit Agency hosts their 12th annual “Pack the Bus” event July 16 to bring school supplies to students of the valley.

The “Pack the Bus” event will take place at the Walmart in Palm Desert on Monterey Avenue from 7:00am to 7:00pm. SunLine reports school supplies ranging from backpack and notebook to glue sticks and pens are most needed in ensuring students have all the resources they need to start the school year.

“It provides them with a confidence to go back to school for those that don’t have as much, they can have a new backpack with new supplies and go to school with that confidence and that hope to succeed in the school year,” said Carmen Cubero, SunLines Marketing and Events Director stated.

This donation event is co-sponsored by Connisseur Media, KESQ, and Walmart. The beneficiary of the 2026 event is the Coachella Valley nonprofit, JFK Memorial Foundation, who will distribute the donations across the valley.

Top Needed School Supplies:

Backpacks

Calculators

Crayons

Colored Markers

Colored Pencils

Erasers

Folders

Glue

Highlighters

Rulers

Scissors

Pencils

Pencil Cases

Glue Sticks

Pens

Sharpies

Tissue Papers

Three‑Ring Binders

Composition Books

Notebook Papers

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Tommy Gallegos

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Richard “Dick” Oliphant, the longtime Indian Wells developer, former mayor, philanthropist and education advocate whose influence helped shape the Coachella Valley for decades, has died at age 92, according to Indian Wells Mayor Toper Taylor.

Few individuals have shaped the growth and development of Indian Wells and the Coachella Valley as profoundly as Oliphant and his wife, Janice. Through decades of leadership, community involvement, and visionary development, the Oliphant’s have left an enduring mark on the region’s landscape, education, and civic life.

Some of Oliphant’s most recognizable projects are the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home to one of the world’s largest professional tennis tournaments, the Indian Wells Golf Resort, and the Classic Club golf course. These landmark destinations have become synonymous with the Coachella Valley’s reputation as a premier destination for sports and recreation.

Among their many contributions, the Oliphant’s played a key role in helping secure the California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) Palm Desert Campus, expanding access to higher education for residents across the Coachella Valley.

Beyond development and education, Oliphant also served as Indian Wells’ first fire chief, volunteering with the fire service for three decades. Last month, the City of Indian Wells announced plans to rename Fire Station 55 in his honor as part of the city’s 60th anniversary celebration. Mayor Taylor tells KESQ that a bust, statue of Oliphant is being commissioned to be placed outside the fire station.

Their commitment to the community has also been recognized with numerous honors. In 2016, Richard and Janice Oliphant received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of the Stars, celebrating their significant contributions to the region.

Richard and Janice Oliphant speak to KESQ while receiving star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars (2016)

The following year, the Desert Sands Unified School District voted to name a new school in Indio in Richard Oliphant’s honor, recognizing his lasting impact on education and the local community.

Beyond philanthropy and civic leadership, Richard Oliphant has been instrumental in shaping the Coachella Valley’s residential and commercial growth. According to the California Homebuilding Foundation, he helped develop several of the area’s most notable communities.

Among his first projects in the desert was the development and construction of Palm City, later named the Palm Desert Country Club, which was California’s first retirement community. His work has also included the development and construction of country clubs, housing communities, commercial centers, and office buildings throughout Palm Desert.

Oliphant also played a pivotal role in local politics across the valley, serving as the founding chairman for the Lincoln Club of the Coachella Valley.

Following news of his death, tributes poured in from local leaders and organizations across the Coachella Valley, including the Palm Springs Air Museum, where Oliphant served as a longtime board member.

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A post shared by Palm Springs Air Museum (@psairmuseum)

“For more than two decades, Dick served the Museum with integrity, humility, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to others,” the post from the Air Museum reads. “His leadership helped shape our institution, but his greatest legacy lives in the countless people he mentored, encouraged, and inspired.”

In a statement released by the City of Indian Wells, Mayor Taylor said, “Dick Oliphant was the visionary mayor of Indian Wells who used his financial acumen, real estate development expertise and powerful political relationships to establish Indian Wells as a globally recognized destination for tennis, golf, luxury accommodations and a fiscally sound, safe, tranquil desert community.”

“Today we mourn a man whose contributions to Indian Wells we will honor for generations to come,” stated Mayor Toper Taylor.

Katie Slimko-Tuvell, the President and CEO for the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce said in a statement, in part, “Rancho Mirage has been shaped by leaders like Dick Oliphant. His vision reached far beyond city boundaries, strengthening the entire Coachella Valley through his generosity, leadership, and steadfast dedication to the organizations and causes he believed in.”

Mary Bono, former U.S. Congresswoman who represented the Coachella Valley for 15 years, said in a post on Facebook, “Dick was a giant in the Coachella Valley in too many ways to count, and perhaps too many ways to truly understand the depth of Dick’s impact on countless lives, and all for the better.”

“I will miss him deeply, but I will carry his lessons with me always,” said Bono.

Plans and details for a memorial have not yet been announced and will be shared when available.

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City News Service

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – A new film series showcasing the portrayal of journalism will be screened at the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s theaters starting in September, with discussions featuring several journalists set afterward.

“Journalists have been one of the most widely portrayed professions in films, because the public is fascinated by the work they do,” Randy Lovely, the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation’s board president, said in a statement. “CVJF is excited to partner with the Palm Springs Cultural Center to screen these amazing movies and to engage the community in conversations about the work of journalists — and the important role they play in society.”

The series, titled “Bylines, Broadcasts and the Big Screen,” will take place from September through April 2027. “Citizen Kane,” the first film to be screened, is set for Sept. 13 and will feature special guests Josh and Ben Mankiewicz, grandsons of the film’s screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz.

Other participating guests throughout the series will include reporter and author Carl Bernstein, “60 Minutes” producer Lowell Bergman, New York Times reporter Megan Twohey and author and entertainment journalist Dave Karger.

Other films being screened include “Network,” “`Good Night and Good Luck” and “All the President’s Men.”Tickets for individual screenings will go on sale on July 27.

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Athena Jreij

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) – As a wave of data center dissent spreads across the Coachella Valley, both Coachella and Indio advanced measures heading for permanent bans on Wednesday evening.

The city of Coachella’s planning commission approved the draft for a permanent ban ordinance on data centers during Wednesday’s meeting. It comes after city council extended a 45-day data center moratorium to 10 months and 15 days, to build out a permanent ban.

Coachella’s Mayor Frank Figueroa says a permanent ban would change the city’s municipal code, which would require two votes by the city council to change. The votes are scheduled to be held on Aug. 12 and Aug. 26.

In Indio, the city council voted to extend a temporary 45-day moratorium to also make way for a permanent ban. City staff requested more time for a permanent ban, which is expected that the permanent ban could be in place by last October or early November.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.

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Garrett Hottle

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. (KESQ) Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco stepped back into the public spotlight Tuesday for the first time since ending his run for governor, endorsing Republican Michael Gates for attorney general and leveled attacks on the man Gates hopes to unseat – Democratic Attorney General Rob Bonta.

In a one-on-one interview with News Channel 3, Bianco called Bonta “an absolute complete fraud that is abusing the power of his office” and said the attorney general “is doing everything he can to stop a lawful investigation.” He accused Bonta of fearing what a full ballot count would show: “He doesn’t want me to find out how many ballots we really have.”

“He’s an embarrassment to me. He’s an embarrassment to law enforcement. And he always has been,” Bianco said, calling the court fight “a political disaster caused by Bonta.”

At the center of it is the sheriff’s investigation into the 2025 Proposition 50 special election.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department told News Channel 3 it is in possession of all the ballots cast in that election.

On June 24, the Sheriff’s Office told News Channel 3, “Yes, the Sheriff’s Office still has possession of the 2025 ballots.”

On June 25, it said by email: “The Riverside Sheriff’s Office has not received reports of election fraud or irregularities, nor are there any active investigations, related to the June 2, 2026, election.”

That is notable because the Riverside Election Integrity Team the same group whose claims sparked Bianco’s original probe was at Tuesday’s Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting raising new questions about the count of votes in the June 2026 primary.

Bianco launched his investigation in February after REIT alleged a 45,800-vote discrepancy between the county’s handwritten ballot logs and the certified total.

Registrar of Voters Art Tinoco said those intake logs were estimates and the real gap was just 103 votes a fraction of a percent that he attributed to human error. Bonta sued, arguing a sheriff has no authority to seize ballots or run a recount.

The California Supreme Court stayed the investigation on April 8, and that stay is still in effect. On May 27, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 73, which makes knowingly taking a package of voted ballots from elections officials a crime punishable by up to three years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both.

The dispute is now fully briefed at the state Supreme Court in two related cases, S295901 and S295866. No oral argument has been scheduled, though a June clerk letter raised the possibility of a special session in August.

Bianco pointed to a California State Sheriffs’ Association amicus brief as proof law enforcement backs him. Asked what the group said, he replied: “Of course they were. It’s a criminal investigation. Every single law enforcement officer should be in support of that.”

Gates, a former Huntington Beach city attorney, pledged to let the probe finish.

“I supported the investigation from day one. And when I’m attorney general, I am going to make sure that Chad Bianco, Sheriff Chad Bianco can investigate and finish his investigation,” he said. “If you shut down investigations and you prevent the truth from coming out, then the public is left with little confidence in our processes, in our systems.”

At the news conference, Gates also added, “I think Rob Bonta is playing politics with this whole thing.”

Bonta has cast Bianco as a “rogue Sheriff” who created a “constitutional emergency,” and has said “what the Sheriff says and what he does are often two different things.”

News Channel 3 has reached out to Attorney General Bonta’s team for comment on the case and on whether he will debate Gates before the November election, and has requested an on-camera interview. News Channel 3 has made multiple previous requests to interview the attorney general on this case.

We will update this story with any response.

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Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – The Coachella Valley Firebirds have hired Scott Ford as their new assistant coach.

Ford spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets.

Prior to his stint in Columbus, Ford coached for nearly a decade with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals and was behind the Admirals’ bench during their back-to-back Western Conference Finals appearances against the Firebirds (2023 and 2024).

Ford replaces Stu Bickel, who departed the Firebirds earlier in the summer to become the head coach of the AHL’s Iowa Wild.

The Firebirds kick off the 2026-27 season at home on Friday, Oct. 2. Stay with News Channel 3 for full coverage all season long.

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Tommy Gallegos

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The Palm Springs Police Department has released a critical incident debrief video detailing the events surrounding an officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 28, 2026, that left one person dead.

The incident began at approximately 3:41 p.m. in the 1200 block of East Palm Canyon Drive, after officers responded to multiple reports of a man allegedly acting erratically and threatening employees at a local business with a knife. According to police, dispatchers received information that the suspect was armed and behaving aggressively, prompting an emergency response.

Upon arrival, officers located the suspect, now identified as Gilberto Flores, of Desert Hot Springs, and attempted to de-escalate the situation, speaking with Flores for over 40 minutes. Authorities say officers issued repeated verbal commands and employed less-lethal options in an effort to gain compliance.

“However much time it takes to get that resolved peacefully is what we try to do,” said Capt. Gustavo Araiza with the Palm Springs Police Department in an interview with News Channel 3.

Officers employed two tasers and one less lethal 40mm sponge round in an effort to disarm Flores. Police state Flores continued advancing while armed with a knife, leading officers to discharge their firearms.

Flores was struck during the encounter and transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. No officers or members of the public were injured during the incident.

The newly released critical incident debrief includes body-worn camera footage, drone footage, radio communications, and an overview of the timeline leading up to the shooting. The department said the video is intended to provide transparency while acknowledging that the investigation remains ongoing.

Police said anyone who wanted more information about any officer-involved shootings in Palm Springs could visit its transparency portal, which you can find by clicking here.

In the incident video released by the department, Chief Andy Mills spoke of the unfortunate end to the incident: “We use time, talk and tactics to be able to resolve these things as peacefully as possible. Unfortunately, it’s not always possible.”

The chief continued, “When you put one of our officers in immediate jeopardy of being stabbed, our officers had to respond with lethal force. It’s important for our officers to go home every night at the end of their watch to their families. And unfortunately, sometimes people won’t allow us to make any other decision.”

In the aftermath of the shooting, the department hopes to create more resources and teams capable of handling mental health crises as they look towards resolving situations like these peacefully.

In the 40 minutes officers spent trying to talk Flores down from the second floor of the building, officers with the department’s CBAT (Community Behavioral Assessment Team) were also on scene. Capt. Araiza said that team is comprised of two people: an officer, well-trained in crisis negotiation, and a clinician from Riverside County. News Channel 3 covered the beginning of that partnership in 2025.

Now, though, Capt. Araiza and Lt. Michael Torres said they want to see additional resources to be devoted towards those in crisis. They pointed to teams that could respond to similar situations and provide a full suite of mental health services, from clinicians to defuse a mental health crisis to a nurse who could administer medication. Then, afterwards, they hoped that team could help conduct aftercare and check-in appointments.

Capt. Araiza said that model was showing signs of success elsewhere in Riverside County: “That onsite response is something that we’re looking at to bring. It’s already in the county, but we’re trying to bring it to the east end of the county. A lot of the agencies on the west end are already looking and deploying these these types of tools.”

As is standard protocol for officer-involved shootings in Riverside County, the investigation is being conducted by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Force Investigation Detail. Following the investigation, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office will independently review the findings to determine whether the officers’ actions complied with department policy and California law.

The Palm Springs Police Department will also conduct an administrative review to determine if department personal acted in accordance with policy, training and professional standards.

Police have encouraged anyone with additional information, photographs, or video of the incident to contact investigators.

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