FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: Cathedral City Police (760) 770-0300
Issuing Employee: Commander Dane Dickson – (760) 202-2421 – ddickson@cathedralcity.gov
Type of Case: Homicide / Case #2106-6156
Date/Time of crime: June 26, 2021 / 0237 hrs.
Location of Occurrence: 31800 Blk of Neuma Drive, Cathedral City, CA
SUSPECT INFORMATION:
Name: Jose Ernesto Martinez
Age: 29 years
City of Residence: Desert Hot Springs, CA
VICTIM INFORMATION:
Name: Isaac Valles
Age: 27 years
City of Residence: Rancho Mirage, CA
Synopsis of Incident:
On June 26, 2021, at approximately 0238 hours, Cathedral City Police Dispatch received a 911 telephone call reporting a gunshot wound victim in the 31800 Blk of Neuma Drive, Cathedral City. Police were dispatched to the scene where they located an adult male lying in the roadway. The victim appeared to have suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Cathedral City Fire Department Paramedics. The scene was secured, and Cathedral City Police Detectives initiated a homicide investigation.
Cathedral City Police Detectives, along with the Riverside County Sheriffs/Coroner’s Office, identified the homicide victim as 27-year-old Isaac Valles, who resided in the City of Rancho Mirage. This crime which appeared to be a result of a domestic dispute, provided ample witness statements and crime scene evidence. Cathedral City Police Officers, Detectives and Gang Investigators immediately acted on this evidence and were able to identify and locate a suspect in the crime. Jose Ernesto Martinez, 29 years of Desert Hot Springs, was arrested as the sole suspect in the homicide of Valles. Martinez was taken in custody in the 20600 Block of Sky Valley Drive in Desert Hot Springs, CA. Martinez was booked into the Riverside County Jail for homicide and is currently held on $1,000,000 (one-million dollar) bail.
Despite an arrest being made, we ask that if you have been a witness to this crime or have information related to this incident, please contact Cathedral City Police Detectives at 760-770-0300 or Detective Rudy Castro at 760-770-0355 or via the Cathedral City Police Department website at: cathedralcitypolice.com. You may also report your information anonymously through the WeTip hotline at: 1-(800)-78-CRIME or WWW.WETIP.com. Some tip information may qualify for a cash reward.