Palm Desert Police Investigate Bizarre Death

A Palm Desert man who was found rambling incoherently by sheriff’s deputies at his house, battled police officers and died a few hours later at a hospital was identified today.

Robert Albert Appel, 48, of Palm Desert, was pronounced dead at 11:55 p.m. Friday at Eisenhower Medical Center, according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office.

A sheriff’s dispatcher received a 911 call about 9:42 p.m. from Appel’s residence, located at 455 Desert Holly Drive, but could not hear a voice on the call and no one answered the phone when the dispatcher called the number back, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Brian Reno.

Officers from the Palm Desert Police Department responded to the location and found Appel, who was “exhibiting bizarre behavior and rambling incoherently,” Reno said.

Officers tried to help him, but Appel became combative and began to have trouble breathing, Reno said.

Paramedics transported Appel to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead, he said.

An autopsy was scheduled to be performed on Appel’s body within the next few days.

Detectives from the Palm Desert Police Department and from the Sheriff’s Central Homicide Unit were continuing the investigation.

Officials asked anyone with information about this incident to call the Palm Desert Police Department at (760) 863-1600.