Crime

Jury deliberations got underway today in the trial of a convicted felon accused of killing a Desert Hot Springs man in a sales dispute that led to vandalism and an ultimately deadly confrontation. James John Angle of Indio is charged with first-degree murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentence-enhancing gun and

Three gang members accused in the slaying of an Indio man must stand trial for first-degree murder and other charges, a judge ruled today. Oscar Angel “Sniper” Bustos, 32, Itati Maribi Ceja, 27, and Robert “Bubba” Ruiz, 33, allegedly killed Jason Diaz in 2020.    Robert “Bubba” Ruiz and Oscar Angel “Sniper” Bustos Following a

A hit-and-run suspect was arrested after a brief police pursuit in Palm Desert Friday afternoon. The incident started at around 1:48 PM when deputies responded to a minor injury traffic collision near the intersection of Monterey Avenue and Dinah Shore Drive. The suspect driver left the scene before deputies could arrive at the scene, according

A convicted felon who allegedly joined a cohort in igniting an explosive device that damaged property on a highway in Rancho Mirage must stand trial for use of a destructive device and vandalism, a judge ruled today.    Jason Edward Hershey, 50, was arrested in 2021 following a months-long local and federal investigation into the

A man was arrested on a separate warrant today after police were called about two vagrants damaging property in Palm Springs and one allegedly pulling a gun. Officers initially responded to reports of “vagrant subjects” damaging a business property in the area of Vista Chino and Sunrise, Lt. Gustavo Araiza of the Palm Springs Police

A 47-year-old man suspected of stealing items from a garage and vehicle last week was arrested in Rancho Mirage. The theft was reported at around 8:30 a.m. on April 30. Deputies responded to a gated community in Rancho Mirage regarding a residential burglary that occurred while the victims were asleep. “The suspect initially burglarized the

The Indio Police Dept. took five people into custody after a gunpoint robbery Wednesday evening. The robbery was reported at around 6:05 PM near Galindo Court and Avenue 40. The suspects fled the area in a white Civic. Officers spotted the vehicle near Monroe and Avenue 42 a short time later, Ben Guitron, Indio PD

A judge confirmed an Aug. 29 trial date today for Cameron Francis Curtis, a Palm Desert High School teacher and football coach accused of striking and killing a pedestrian while intoxicated. Curtis, 32, previously pleaded not guilty to a first-degree murder charge after allegedly driving into 64-year-old Nancy Valdes of Palm Desert. Curtis was also

A 41-year-old man accused of killing his roommate and two cats in their Cathedral City apartment re-entered a not guilty plea to murder today. Joseph Ortega initially pleaded not guilty to the murder charges Nov. 3, 2022, during his first court appearance in the case. At the Larson Justice Center in Indio, Ortega re-entered a

One of two men suspected in the 2018 fatal shooting of a jiu-jitsu instructor in Cathedral City re-entered a not guilty plea today to murder. Kipko Griffin, 49, initially pleaded not guilty to the charges July 27, 2023, during his first court appearance in the case. At the end of a preliminary hearing April 9,

A 24-year-old man who joined his brother in a takeover robbery at a Banning cannabis store, where two people were stabbed and another almost shot, was convicted today of attempted murder and other offenses.    Following nearly a week of deliberations, a Riverside jury found Raymond Emilio Paul Matus of Beaumont guilty of the attempted