Desert Local News - Index

Desert Local News - dlnews - Index

police & sheriffs report
Hit And Run Collision in
Coachella Leaves One Dead
On Wednesday, February 06,
2008 at about 7:59 a.m., Officers
with the Coachella Police Traffic
Services were dispatched to
Grapefruit Blvd. and Avenue 49th
in the city of Coachella, reference
a found body call.
Upon arrival officers located a
deceased female on the center median
of Grapefruit Blvd. between
Avenue 48th and Avenue 49th. The
victim was found by a city worker
who was setting up construction
cones on one of southbound lanes
of Grapefruit Blvd.
The preliminary investigation
revealed the decedent, a Hispanic
female, was a victim of a hit and
run traffic collision in the early
hours of the day. Furthermore, it
was determined that the suspect
vehicle is of a General Motors
make and should have moderate
damage to the left side or hood of
the vehicle.
The identity of the victim is
being withheld pending notification
to next of kin.
This investigation is ongoing
and anyone with information
related to this incident is asked
to contact Coachella Police Traffic
Services at 760-863-8990
during regular work hours or
760-836-3215 after regular work
hours.
Couple Stabs
Each Other To
Death in Thermal
On Friday, 02/01/08 at approximately
7:26 p.m., Deputies from
the Indio Station were dispatched
to the 85000 block of Middleton
Avenue in Thermal, reference a
stabbing.
On arrival, deputies located two
victims. A deceased male with apparent
stab wounds was found outside
the residence. A female with
apparent stab wounds was found
inside the residence. The male,
Jose Ontiveros, 26 years died at
the scene. The female, Celia Cruz-
Ontiveros, 26 years was transported
to John F. Kennedy Memorial
Hospital where she succumbed to
her injuries and was pronounced at
9:23 p.m.
Based on the preliminary investigation
it appears the two victims
became involved in a domestic
argument which ultimately culminated
them stabbing each other.
Investigators from the Sheriff’s
Central Homicide Unit and the Indio
Station are conducting a homicide
investigation.
Anyone with information related
to this incident is asked to
contact Investigator James Peters
with the Central Homicide
Unit at 951-955-2777 or Indio
Station Investigator Martin at
760-863-8990.
DHS Police Officer
Trial Intensifies:
Boyfriend Of Victim Called To Testify
By Leslie Andrews
The trial against Dennis Paul
Decker, a former Desert Hot
Springs police officer, intensifies
as witnesses from both sides of the
story appear before a judge at the
Larson Justice Center in Indio.
Decker is being tried on 20
counts of aggravated sexual assault
on a minor as well as rape
and lewd acts with a child, involving
two minor females. Prosecution
claims that Decker had molested
one of his victims since she
was seven years old and that the
acts of fornication took place over
a decade. Also that Decker had a
relationship with one of his cadets
in the department’s Police Explorers
program up until his arrest in
2006.
On Monday, the boyfriend of
one of his victims was called to
testify. Because he is a minor, his
identity will be withheld. District
Attorney Victoria Cameron and
Defense Attorney John Patrick
Dolan spent the afternoon asking
him questions in regards to a se-
The Coachella Police Traffic
Services has received several calls
reference the Fatal Hit and Run
traffic collision reported Wednesday
morning. It is believed the incident
occurred on Tuesday, February
5, 2008 at about 9:20 p.m.
on Grapefruit Blvd., between 48th
Avenue and 49th Avenue in the
city of Coachella.
The suspect vehicle is described
as a light colored, possibly
white or light gray, 1995 to 2004
model Chevy Astro Van or GMC
Safari. The van will have damage
to the left front headlamp and
bumper area, with possible damage
to the left side of the hood or
the left side of the windshield.
This investigation is continuing
and anyone with any infor-
ries of emails sent between Decker
and the victim.
Cameron asked the boyfriend
if Decker ever used nicknames
like “Hottie” or Cutie” to describe
the victim. The boyfriend did not
remember if he did such a thing.
He also testified that he had spent
about five nights at the Decker
household and never saw any inappropriate
behavior taking place
between the victim and the officer.
However, he stated that Decker
liked to check up on every one of
his cadets and even gave him a
ride home once.
The boyfriend did testify that
the victim did have a journal and
often jotted down her thoughts in
it. He was also asked if the victim
was ever known to lie and he
said, “Everybody tells little white
lies.”
It was brought up that the victim
expressed fear of destroying
her family if she were to expose
the truth about Decker and his actions.
Yet she never appeared to be
fearful, according to the boyfriend.
mation related to this incident is
asked to contact Coachella Police
Traffic Services at 760-863-8990
or 760-836-3215 after regular
business hours.
Original press release, 2/6/08:
On Wednesday, February 06,
2008 at about 7:59 a.m., Officers
with the Coachella Police Traffic
Services were dispatched to
Grapefruit Blvd. and Avenue 49th
in the city of Coachella, reference
a found body call.
Upon arrival officers located a
deceased female on the center median
of Grapefruit Blvd. between
Avenue 48th and Avenue 49th. The
victim was found by a city worker
who was setting up construction
cones on one of southbound lanes
of Grapefruit Blvd.
5
She would call him monthly.
In previous reports, the other
victim would accuse Decker of
poking her in the breasts while
wearing a police vest. Even hugs
from Decker to the victim were
reported to have been inappropriate
as well. One report stated that
Decker had placed his hand one of
the victim’s thighs while he was
writing a report.
“I think it looks pretty good for
Decker so far, it’s not overwhelming
what has been presented,” said
Dolan to Desert Local News. “I
think they’re overreaching at this
point. But there will be more witnesses
to come.” He expects that
this trial will last for weeks before
a jury decision can be made.
Decker was the one who
founded the Police Explorers program
for his department and also
served as a resource officer for
Desert Springs Middle School
and for Desert Hot Springs High
School. Now, he sits in Indio Jail
at a $2 million bail. If convicted,
Decker could face life in prison.
Coachella Hit & Run
The preliminary investigation
revealed the decedent, a Hispanic
female, was a victim of a hit and
run traffic collision in the early
hours of the day. Furthermore, it
was determined that the suspect
vehicle is of a General Motors
make and should have moderate
damage to the left side or hood of
the vehicle.
The identity of the victim is
being withheld pending notification
to next of kin.
This investigation is ongoing
and anyone with information
related to this incident is asked
to contact Coachella Police Traffic
Services at 760-863-8990
during regular work hours or
760-836-3215 after regular work
hours.