Public Safety
Day 8 People v. Felix: Defense Makes Their Case
The defense started to make their case in the ‘People vs. Felix’ trial.
The man charged with killing Palm Springs Police Officers Jose ‘Gil’ Vega and Lesley Zerebny looked down as his sister maria took the stand as his attorney John Patrick Dolan asked her to describe Felix’s behavior the morning of the shooting.
Previous testimony established Maria and Felix got into a fight over the T.V. remote in his room.
Maria then said through a translator, “He got close to me like he really got in my face and in his eyes was great anger.”
Maria said she hadn’t seen him this way until that day, she said during an interview with a sheriff’s investigator his behavior was abnormal.
Dolan asked what she meant by abnormal.’
“Many things to him you could tell he needed help,” Maria answered.
They played the long recording of Maria’s interview with the investigator in the days following the shooting. Much of the recording was inaudible but jurors followed along with transcripts.
Dolan followed up with questions about the intensity of his anger on October 8th.
“He got in my face and started cursing at me,” said Maria.
Maria said Felix grabbed her like he wanted to do something to her, but instead made a growling sound and, ” … punched a hole through the wall.”
Then Assistant District Attorney Michelle Paradise cross examined Maria, she worked to unravel the defense’s strategy by getting Maria to admit Felix’s angry behavior was normal.
“Have you been afraid of him for many years?” asked Paradise.
Maria answered, “Yes.”
Maria then denied ever seeing her brother punch holes in the wall and said he showed zero signs of being a methamphetamine addict. Something the defense will try to attribute to his actions that day.
By: NBC Palm Springs
May 1, 2019
Latest Instagram Posts
🚨 20 ARRESTS. 6 GUNS SEIZED. Cathedral City Police report 20 arrests and six handgun seizures following two days of enforcement tied to a Mongols Motorcycle Club gathering. Police also issued 77 citations and impounded 14 vehicles. The operation involved multiple law enforcement agencies and was four weeks in the making. #CathedralCity #BreakingNews #Mongols #CoachellaValley #PublicSafety
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry: last day of summer!
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1 Silias Bloodworth with the scoop and score, 2) Eusebio Gallo with the kickoff touchdown, 3) Keymorie Rogers with the throw on the run, 4) Damian Durinzi with the rushing TD, or 5) Mario Gallo with the dot towards the endzone #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
Hundreds gathered outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” rally, protesting President Donald Trump’s handling of the performing arts center. The demonstration came after the Kennedy Center board voted to close the facility for repairs and amid an ongoing dispute over the center’s future. Actress and singer Lynda Carter was among those who addressed the crowd. apnews.com Watch the latest video on NBC Palm Springs.
Alice B. has announced it’s closing its doors. It’s cozy atmosphere and unique seasonal menu made it a must try and even landed it in the Michelin guide. @susanfeniger and @marysuemilliken left their mark on the desert over at Living Out and it will be missed. Here’s a clip from one of our last interviews with Susan.
Cathedral City City Council votes to rename “LGBT+ Days” to “Cathedral City Pride”. The council approved the change in a 5-0 vote during its latest meeting, updating the official name of the city’s annual celebration. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs to see what this means to the Coachella Valley Community #CathedralCity #pride #CityCouncil #CoachellaValley #LocalNews
Discover the Coachella Valley with the Everything Palm Springs app. From iconic attractions and hidden gems to local restaurants, shops, entertainment and even filming locations, the map-based app is designed to help both visitors and locals find more of what the desert has to offer. Creator Lindsay Kinkle is also expanding the app with video tours and narrated guides, giving users another way to explore Palm Springs and the surrounding communities. Local businesses like Buena Matcha are also getting a chance to connect with new customers through the platform. As Lindsay says, there’s so much to do and enjoy here — you just have to know where to look. #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #EverythingPalmSprings #PalmSpringsApp #VisitPalmSprings DesertLife LocalBusiness CoachellaValleyBusiness NBCPalmSprings
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
What’s next for Palm Desert? Join community leaders, local businesses and regional stakeholders for the 2026 State of the City Address. Topics: • Economic Development • Infrastructure • Public Safety • Community Programs • Palm Desert’s Future CTA: Friday, September 18 | 11:30 AM JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Former Silvercrest CEO, William Rodriguez is expected back in court today in connection with the deadly 2024 Cathedral City hit and run that killed a woman. The murder charge was dismissed, but Rodriguez still faces felony hit and run and suspended license charges.