Category: kesq-local-news

Jesus Reyes

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Police used de-escalation and tactical restraint to arrest a person armed with numerous weapons outside of the Palm Springs Walmart Tuesday night.

The incident happened just after 11 p.m. at  5601 Ramon Road.

“PSPD officers responded to a call at Walmart regarding a male subject armed with a knife and refusing to leave,” Palm Springs police wrote on social media.

Initial reports indicated that a person was threatening employees and customers and attempted to discharge pepper spray inside the store. Officers located the suspect, identified as a 49-year-old man, outside the store in possession of a knife, taser, and pepper spray.

Officers repeatedly issued commands, but the suspect refused to comply and moved toward an occupied area, police said. He then turned his aggression toward officers, activating his taser in their direction.

“Throughout the escalating encounter, officers demonstrated remarkable restraint, choosing to rely on a range of de-escalation tactics and less-lethal tools rather than resort to lethal force,” police wrote. “Over the course of the encounter, officers employed a calculated and restrained use-of-force approach, attempting several less-lethal options in line with department policy. Officers employed multiple Taser deployments, a pepperball launcher, and a 40mm less-lethal launcher. A K-9 unit was also strategically utilized to increase officer presence and assist in containment efforts.”

The suspect was ultimately tased. He remained noncompliant and armed, but officers quickly disarmed him and placed him in custody.

He was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center and faces multiple charges, including robbery, resisting an executive officer, exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm, felon in possession of a stun gun and felon in possession of tear gas.

“The Palm Springs Police Department commends the officers for their composure, professionalism, and exemplary restraint in the face of danger. Their actions reflect the department’s values of integrity, tactical discipline, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding the community through de-escalation and the thoughtful use of force,” reads a social media post by PSPD.

Luis Avila

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) – With the start of ‘Coachella’ just a few days away, the Indio Police Department is doubling down on security measures to make sure festival-goers can enjoy all the fun.

“We have multiple allied agencies assisting us with this event, just like every year, as well as private security personnel.”

Sgt. Abraham Plata, Indio PD PIO

With thousands of people expected to attend, officials are focusing on:

enhancing crowd control

emergency medical response

countering potential threats

Plata says officials have been making progress in addressing these issues. According to recent data, ‘Coachella 2024’ saw a 20 percent decrease in arrests compared to 2023.

“We will continue to do what we’ve been doing past years. We have an excellent game plan every year… We have state-of-the-art equipment and technology as well as staff that will be doing everything they can to ensure the safety of all attendees.”

Sgt. Abraham Plata, Indio PD PIO

He says there will be a zero tolerance policy for anyone breaking the rules. Rules in place to ensure both attendees and surrounding residents have a good time.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.

Jesus Reyes

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) – Two Indio residents were among a trio arrested in connection with a train theft in Los Angeles County back in 2022.

Nathan Munoz, 28, and Karla Torres, 28, both of Indio, along with David Palmer, 47, of Long Beach were arrested. They have been charged with multiple felonies, including Grand Theft Cargo and Receiving Stolen Property, and were booked at the LAPD’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

The Los Angeles Police Department said the theft happened in September 2022. Yamaha musical instruments valued at nearly $214,000 were stolen from Union Pacific trains. The stolen property was subsequently sold on eBay.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests may be forthcoming.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Commercial Crimes Division at 213-486-5920 between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247).

Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.

Jesus Reyes

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – College of the Desert unveiled its new mascot costume for Rodney the Roadrunner.

Rodney’s new costume will make its debut today at Grad Fest.

College officials touted the bold colors and dynamic design elements of the new costume. The new look Rodney will represent the college at campus events, athletic competitions and community celebrations to boost school spirit.

“This new mascot will enhance the sense of pride and belonging at College of the Desert,” said Kaden Olson, ASCOD President. “We are excited to see how Rodney’s role as a unifying symbol encourages even stronger connections among students, staff and the community.”

The roadrunner has been a beloved campus symbol since the college adopted the name Rodney in 2019. Reflecting the college’s commitment to inclusion, Rodney uses both he and they pronouns across all official communications.

Rodney was brought to life through student input and collaboration with ASCOD.

“In designing the mascot, we focused on creating something authentic and versatile,” said Nicholas Robles, interim Public Information Officer. “Our collaboration with student leaders produced a character that truly embodies the roadrunner spirit, with a distinctive appearance and multiple outfits for various occasions.”

The redesign stemmed from student interest revealed through the EdSights texting platform launched in August 2024. When staff noticed “Who is our mascot?” among the most common questions, they seized the opportunity to reinvigorate this campus tradition.

For updates on Rodney’s appearances, follow College of the Desert on social media.

City News Service

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (KESQ) – A Coachella Valley woman is among four Californians accused of perpetrating a seven-figure insurance scam that involved falsifying insurance policies, state officials said today.   

An investigation was launched by the California Department of Insurance following a consumer complaint regarding alleged forgery and insurance fraud in insurance policies.

The scheme involved falsifying agent information on policy applications submitted to multiple insurance companies.   

The investigation identified four suspects who allegedly fraudulently secured more than $1.4 million in commissions by manipulating over $2 million in premiums from 28 California consumers.

The defendants targeted four insurance carriers in California between 2017 and 2023. However, the California Department of Insurance was able to successfully recover more than $2 million for the affected victims.

Natorae Marie Wettstein, 56, of Rancho Mirage was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft, according to state officials. Her co-defendants include:   — Daniel Jon Carpenter, 62, of Morgan Hill, who allegedly orchestrated the scam and was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud, grand theft and identity theft;   — Blake John Carpenter, 27, of San Jose, who was arraigned on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft;   — Noah Maxwell Kuh, 26, of San Jose, who was arraigned on a felony charge of insurance fraud; and   — Alejandro Carlos, 25, of Gilroy, who remains a at large, and is wanted on felony charges of insurance fraud and grand theft.   

Anyone with information on Carlos’ whereabouts was urged to call the department at 707-751-2000.

Shay Lawson

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ)  – Coachella weekend one is back — and while fans are prepping their campgrounds, local hospitals are prepping too.

Dr. Julie Puzzo , assistant medical director, Emergency Department for JFK Memorial Hospital, said they’re ready to handle the rush.

“We’ve got all the personnel in place,” Dr. Puzzo said. “We only have 12 beds, but we’re ready to expand that capacity as much as we need to. All hands are on deck.”

Located less than three miles from the Empire Polo Grounds, JFK Memorial Hospital is one of the closest trauma centers to the festival grounds.

Dr. Puzzo detailed the most common medical issues she sees during festival season.

“Dehydration or heat related illness is really number one,” Dr. Puzzo said. “Second is drugs and alcohol, accidental overdoses.”

She said hydration and heat control are important precautions to take.

“There are a lot of cooling stations or places where they have misting or even air conditioning on the festival grounds,” Dr. Puzzo said. “I would just recommend hydrate with water, not alcohol. Just be really aware of your temperature.”

This year, there’s another concern: measles.

Health officials recently announced that a Coachella Valley resident tested positive for measles.

“If you’re feeling ill at all, even though you did spend money to come down, please keep the general public health in mind and stay away or stay home,” Dr. Puzzo said. “If you feel comfortable wearing masks, then that’s a good thing to do, too.”

Coachella’s first weekend runs from April 11 to April 13, with the second weekend scheduled for April 18 to April 20.

Stagecoach runs from April 25 to April 27.

Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing festival season coverage.

City News Service

COACHELLA, Calif. (KESQ) – The Tribal Nations of the Coachella Valley and the National Congress of American Indians sent a joint letter today to White House officials defending the creation of the Chuckwalla National Monument in Riverside County, amid fears the Trump Administration may rescind its creation.   

“We aim to partner with the Department of the Interior on developments associated with the Chuckwalla National Monument, lending our deep expertise to ensure the area is utilized respectfully by the local community and tourists from across the globe,” the tribal officials wrote in the letter. “Out of respect for tribal sovereignty, we ask that you refrain from taking any actions associated with this area without appropriate and robust tribal consultation.”

President Joe Biden declared the national monument before leaving office in January, protecting 624,270 acres of desert habitat in Riverside and Imperial counties from development.

The New York Times and Washington Post both reported in mid-March that President Donald Trump was expected to rescind Biden’s action. According to the papers, the White House released a fact sheet citing numerous executive orders rolling back actions of the Biden administration, including one “terminating proclamations declaring a million acres of new national monuments that lock up vast amounts of land that lock up economic development and energy production.”  

However, that item was later removed, leaving the fate of the monument in question.  

The Post reported that Trump also planned to rescind the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in Northern California.   

Both the Chuckwalla and Sáttítla monuments were established under the Antiquities Act of 1906, and it was unclear under what legal authority Trump could roll back their designations.

Thursday’s letter defending the cultural importance of the Chuckwalla monument was sent by the Ft. Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, Cahuilla Band of Indians, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Chemehuevi Indian Tribe and the National Congress of American Indians, a national intertribal government organization.

“‘We request the opportunity to meet with you and your staff to fully explain our position and why this designation — and the associated protections — are so important to our Tribal Nations,” the letter states.

Kendall Flynn

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) – Starting May 7, every state and territory resident will need to present a REAL ID compliant license/ID when boarding a domestic flight.

If drivers license holders do not have a REAL ID, they can present another acceptable form of identification, like a passport. The REAL ID is required for aircrafts and for accessing federal facilities or nuclear power plants.

For all REAL ID compliant identifications go to tsa.gov.

Department’s of Motor Vehicles across the country have seen increased wait times during the week as people scramble to get their REAL ID before the federal deadline. California began issuing REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards in January 2018. 

More than 18 million Californians have upgraded to the REAL ID identification card or driver’s license, which is about 55% of all drivers and ID cardholders, according to the DMV.

Lorie Dankers the TSA spokesperson at Palm Springs International Airport said nearly 81% of the U.S. population is ready for the incoming enforcement. However, if you’re a part of the 19% that isn’t ready, the best time to prepare is now.

And TSA has a reminder for anyone traveling for upcoming holidays.

“Not everybody’s traveling on May 7th,” Dankers said. “In fact, Wednesdays are some of the lower passenger volume days of the week for TSA, but people will likely be traveling maybe around Memorial Day or Fourth of July. Don’t wait until those holidays are upon us. Do something now, have a plan.”

As the deadline quickly approaches, Palm Springs International airport is advising travelers to ensure their identification is compliant with the new act before they are unable to travel.

Stay with News Channel 3 to hear from officials on what you need to know ahead of the READ ID May 7 deadline.

Athena Jreij

Editor’s Note: We have removed the name and photo of the suspect after charges were not filed due to insufficient evidence, Indio police and the District Attorney’s office said.

Police said they are aware that the suspect was not charged in this crime and they will continue to work the case, and if they get additional information, the detectives could refile the case with the DA’s Office.

IPD said they are working with the neighborhood about their concerns.

The suspect was released from custody on Monday, according to jail records.

UPDATE 4/15/2025:

Indio police said a woman who told them she was responsible for assaulting Shari Griffith is now facing a new charge — attempted murder in an unrelated case in Desert Hot Springs.

Griffith is standing by her original statement. She said it was her male neighbor who assaulted her.

Indio police said they’re still working to positively identify if the woman was a suspect in Griffith’s attack.

News Channel 3 asked the department how they’re keeping neighbors safe.

“We are doing extra patrols in the area,” Sgt. Abraham Plata, Indio police, said. “I’m also trying to work with residents in that area to have a community meeting so we can talk about safety and hear their concerns.” 

No date has been set yet.

UPDATE 4/11/2025:

The suspect arrested and accused of assaulting an Indio woman on Thursday is due in court on Monday, April 14.

He was arrested nearly a week after the 70-year-old victim was attacked.

The victim, Shari Griffith, says the suspect is her neighbor, who left her with a black eye and a swollen wrist.

Griffith adds that while she’s thankful police made an arrest, there are still two other neighbors who were involved in the incident.

ORIGINAL REPORT 4/10/2025:   

INDIO, Calif. (KESQ) — Some people in an Indio neighborhood say they’re living in fear after their 70-year-old neighbor, Shari Griffith was assaulted, and it took nearly a week for authorities to make an arrest.

Residents living on the 81200 block of Helen Ave. reached out to News Channel 3 about the incident after they say Griffith was assaulted by three neighbors rummaging through her car.

“He turned around and he hit me with the bony part of his palm upside the head. And, I was stunned, absolute shock. It surprised me and I just started crying,” Griffith said.

Now, she’s left with a black eye, swollen wrist, and fear she can’t shake after she says those neighbors have been intimidating the community.

“The young lady who’s the driver of the car drives erratically through the neighborhood. She’s driving so erratically that she has come close to hitting numerous of the neighbors,” Griffith said.

Looking for answers, News Channel 3 reached out to Indio Police and the result of that pressure?

A knock on Griffith’s door from several detectives during our interview.

Thirty minutes after police received another testimony from Griffith, an arrest was made.

“On Thursday, at approximately 12:35 PM, a male suspect was arrested. The detectives are currently processing him and will be booked into John Benoit Detention Center for elder abuse and vehicle burglary,” Sgt. Abe Plata said.

In that same statement to News Channel 3, police said they were unable to make an arrest the day of the assault because Griffith was unable to positively identify a suspect.

But Griffith says that’s not true and rather, the officer who handled her case didn’t take her seriously.

“It was assigned to, a man who I have no faith in, no trust in, and who misrepresented many, many issues. That information that he relayed to me on the phone, about information that I had provided the police department was wrong,” Griffith said.

While she’s grateful one of the individuals apart of her assault was arrested, her community says work still needs to be done to arrest all three.

“My heart would break if this isn’t handled and taken seriously, and one or all three of these younger people commits another crime against a person in this neighborhood,” Griffith said.