Crime

A 51-year-old woman suspected in a fatal hit-and-run crash in Desert Hot Springs was charged with murder today.    Sheila Johnson of Desert Hot Springs was also charged with a felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, as well as sentence-enhancing allegations for fleeing the scene, being armed, causing great bodily harm and engaging

The Riverside County Coroner’s office has released the identity of the 18-year-old killed in a shooting at a party over the weekend in Coachella. The shooting happened on Friday just before midnight on the 53000 block of Calle Sanborn in Coachella. According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies were originally called to respond to

Police have arrested a woman in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a grandfather of seven last week in Desert Hot Springs. On Wednesday, Aug. 24, Desert Hot Springs resident Paul Nava, 58, was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing the street on Palm Drive near Cahuilla Avenue. Paul Nava A week-long

An unregistered sex offender wanted in two states was arrested in the High Desert on Wednesday. The incident that led to the arrest started at around 2:00 p.m. Deputies conducted a traffic stop in downtown Joshua Tree. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept. revealed that from that traffic stop, deputies developed leads that revealed a

A gang member who shot and seriously wounded a Cathedral City bar patron without provocation, as well as wounded another man accidentally, was sentenced today to 52 years to life in state prison. A Murrieta jury in May convicted 40-year-old Tomas Lucio Zaragoza of Desert Hot Springs of attempted murder, firearm assault and multiple sentence-enhancing

A convicted felon today is facing six years in state prison after pleading guilty to placing a bomb inside a cement trash can on Halloween 2020, causing an explosion that flung debris onto Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage.   Michael Henry Hardisty, 58, of Cathedral City, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one felony count of possession

A 36-year-old man suspected of carrying out multiple residential burglaries in Palm Desert since June was charged today with two counts of burglary and other offenses. In addition to the burglary counts, Adan Abel Holguin was charged with receiving stolen property, possessing ammunition and having contraband in jail, according to court records. He’s scheduled to

A man suspected of multiple residential burglaries since June was arrested today. The 36-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property and being a felon in possession of ammunition, according to Sgt. Rovann Cleveland of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Cleveland said that members of the Palm Desert Station’s Burglary

A formerly convicted felon who stole ex-Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes’ patrol vehicle from a body shop, subsequently posed as an officer and stood trial on weapons charges pleaded guilty today and was immediately sentenced to two years in state prison.   William Leon Menser, 31, of Indio was arrested on Jan. 4, 2018, one

A 49-year-old man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of designer sunglasses from a Cabazon mall was charged today with grand theft. Demon Wannee Dennis of Hemet was arrested Friday after the alleged theft at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets on Seminole Drive, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Dennis, who is being

Editor’s Note: The Riverside County District Attorney’s office confirmed that charges were dropped in September 2022 “in the interest of justice.” The article has been updated with the correct information. A 41-year-old man charged with illegally possessing multiple firearms and narcotics failed to appear in court today and had a warrant issued for his arrest.