Press Releases

Domestic Violence

Update:

Deputies assigned to the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team assumed the investigation. On August 13, 2020, about 9:30 PM, the suspect, Jeffrey Cook, 35 of La Quinta was arrested for felony domestic battery and booked at the jail. 

Anyone wi...

Residential Burglary

Details:

On Monday, August 10, 2020, around 9:15 am, officers from the California Highway Patrol located a possible stolen golf cart at a recycling shop in Indio. Officers traced the golf cart to a residence in the 54000 block of Southern Hills in La Quint...

Homicide

Details:

On Friday, August 7, 2020, at 7:34 PM, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department - Thermal Station, responded to a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision in 84000 block of Avenue 50 in Coachella. Deputies arrived withi...

Residential Burglary Arrest

Details:

On July 19, 2020, at 3:23 AM, La Quinta patrol deputies responded to multiple residential burglaries in the 53000 block of Avenida Juarez, in the city of La Quinta. The investigation was assumed by the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team. During th...

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Driver’s License Checkpoint Planned

Details:

On July 31, 2020, deputies conducted a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Driver’s License Checkpoint at Cesar Chavez and 4th Street within the city of Coachella, between the hours of 8:00 pm and 2:00 am.  The checkpoint yielded ...

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Collision

Details:

On July 31, 2020, at 7:38 AM, La Quinta deputies responded to Avenue 52 and Avenida Bermudas reference a single vehicle traffic collision.  Investigation revealed driver, Roberto Ruelas, 20yrs of Lake Elsinore was traveling eastbound on A...

Burglary and Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Details:

Homicide

Update:

On July 30, 2020, the Coachella Valley Violent Crime Gang Task Force (CVVCGTF) assisted Central Homicide Unit Investigators with locating and arresting 40-year-old Martha Espinoza of Coachella for her involvement in this homicide. The ongoing inves...

Suspicious Death

Update:

The decedent was identified as Leonard Garcia, 31 years old resident of Coachella. 

Details:

On July 22, 2020, deputies from the Thermal Sheriff Station responded to a report of a man down at Ave. 49 and Calle Abelia. Upon arrival, deputies ...

Homicide

Details:

On Tuesday, July 21, 2020, deputies from the Thermal Station responded to the area of Fillmore St. and Ave. 78 in Thermal to investigate a report of a dead body. When deputies arrived, they located an adult male who was the victim of a homicide. I...

Suspicious Death

Update:

On July 28, 2020, the identity of the homicide victim was confirmed through the Coroner’s Office, using dental records. The victim is Luis Pinedo, 23 years of Mecca. This is still an active investigation and no further details will be rel...

Parole at Large / Felon in Possession of a Firearm Arrest

Details:

On July 17, 2020, about 8:41 PM, Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) Deputies contacted Francisco Magana, 29 of Indio, in the area of Van Buren Street and Corregidor within the unincorporated area of Indio.  Magana was known to the dep...

Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Driver's License Checkpoint

Details:

Coachella, Calif. – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and Driver’s License Checkpoint on July 31, 2020, at an undisclosed location within the city limits of C...

Burglary, possession of stolen property, and possession of stolen vehicle

Details:

On July 13, 2020, the Thermal Station Agricultural Liaison Deputy, along with the Southern Coachella Community Services District (SCVCSD) Deputies, conducted a probation/compliance check regarding a burglary investigation. The victims of the burgl...

Aggravated Arson, Burglary

Details:

On June 30, 2020, at 11:08 PM, Thermal Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported alarm at a business within the 90400 block of Avenue 66 in Mecca. On arrival, deputies determined entry had been made to the business and a fire had been s...

Lost Hiker Found

Details:

On July 10, 2020, at 2:54 P.M., the Sheriff’s Department received a call of a Lost Hiker, in Joshua Tree National Park.  The lost hiker, Robert Ringo, 67 years old, of La Quinta, was last seen on July 9, 2020 about 12:00 PM. &am...

Possession of Narcotics / Resisting Arrest

Details:

On Friday, July 10, 2020, at 12:30 P.M., Coachella deputies from the Thermal Station contacted a subject at the 52000 Block of Cesar Chavez Street, in the city of Coachella. The contact was due to multiple previous reports of trespassing and vanda...

Illegal Marijuana Cultivation

Details:

On Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at 5:41 PM, La Quinta Special Enforcement Team served a marijuana related search warrant within the 51000 block of Avenida Obregon, La Quinta. It was discovered that the entire residence was being utilized as a marijuan...

Coronavirus Scam Alert!

Details:

In recent days, the Thermal Sheriff’s Station has received reports of suspected scam attempts related to COVID-19 or questions regarding the legitimacy of those offers.

COVID-19 scams can come in the form of robocalls, emails or online se...

Celebrate 4th of July Responsibly

Details:

Your Actions Save Lives: Celebrate 4^th of July Holiday Responsibly

Coachella, Calif. – As we approach the 4^th of July holiday, the city of Coachella and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department encourages the public to be responsib...

Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sale

Details:

On Thursday, July 2, 2020, about 7:30 AM, the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) with the assistance of Gang Task Force (GTF) and Thermal Station teams, served three search warrants. The search warrants were served within the 1000 block of Dat...

Armed Robbery, Grand Theft and Child Endangerment Arrest

Details:

On June 26, 2020, a grand theft and an armed robbery occurred within the unincorporated area of Thermal and city of Coachella. The Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT) assumed the investigation. On today’s date at 5:12 PM, CCAT served ...

Illegal Fireworks

Details:

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, serving the city of La Quinta, wants to remind residents ALL fireworks are illegal in La Quinta. This includes “Safe and Sane” fireworks such as sparklers.

Violators of firewo...

Assault with a deadly weapon investigation

Details:

On April 18^th, 2020 Thermal Station deputies responded to a reported shooting, which occurred in the area of Las Lunas Avenue and Rio Rancho Court in Coachella. The Thermal Station Investigations Bureau assumed the investigation and recently ident...

Stolen vehicle recovery / Gang member arrested

Details:

On June 17^th, 2020 around 9:51 AM, Thermal Station deputies assigned to the city of Coachella located a stolen U-Haul van in the desert area of Vista Del Norte, west of Dillon Road. Next to the stolen van was known gang member Aaron Reyes, 39 of C...