Palm Springs Police Employee Back in Court Over Fatal Crash Involving Fellow Officer

A Palm Springs Police Department employee accused of fatally striking a fellow officer was in court once again today. Juliana Granados, who had been employed by the department, appeared before a judge for her second hearing in connection with the tragic crash that took place on Thanksgiving morning. Granados is accused of being intoxicated when she drove her truck, fatally hitting her colleague, Nicholas Griego.

This morning’s hearing follows the January 10th session when Granados’ bail was revoked. The court received new information, including photos from Granados’ phone, which played a role in the decision. The pictures showed Granados drinking a brown liquid from a mug, and though her defense claims it was just Coke, the photos were taken after the crash and raised concerns for the judge. As a result, bail was revoked once more.

Granados’ attorney, John Patrick Dolan, spoke to reporters after the hearing, explaining the purpose of the session and the next steps in the case. Dolan indicated that probation had reviewed Granados' situation and recommended that she be released on OR, which would allow her to be free without posting bail. He acknowledged that the situation had been difficult but emphasized that it was a tragic accident rather than an intentional crime. Dolan stressed that the case was not about embarrassing the Palm Springs Police Department but about presenting the full facts of the case, which he hopes will become clearer after the upcoming preliminary hearing.

The district attorney’s office, however, has a different view on the incident, with the DA continuing to characterize the situation as something more severe than an accident. Dolan hopes that the preliminary hearing, set for Friday, will provide a fuller picture and ultimately lead to a fair resolution for all parties involved.

"This is a very sad case," Dolan said. "Our hearts go out to the Griego family, and we hope that everyone involved in this tragedy finds some resolution in the days ahead."