A controversial incident involving a Desert Hot Springs police officer has sparked public outcry and an internal affairs investigation after a video of the encounter went viral online, amassing nearly 900,000 views.
The July 7 video shows an officer confronting Joshua Felix, a suspect in a battery investigation. The officer is heard repeatedly shouting while standing uncomfortably close to Felix, who claims he was being harassed by police.
Tensions escalated when Felix called the officer a derogatory term, prompting the officer to detain him. However, no formal arrest was made, as both individuals involved in the alleged battery declined to press charges. The case has since been forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
The footage gained widespread attention after being shared online, prompting swift public reaction and legal scrutiny. In response, Desert Hot Springs Police Chief Dale Mondary confirmed an internal investigation into the officer’s conduct. Although no laws were broken, the department reviewed whether the officer violated internal policies or codes of conduct.
“Contrary to what’s being said online, the officer did not commit a crime,” Chief Mondary said. “But we’re taking this seriously and examining whether our code of conduct was upheld.”
“I’ve been physically sick since Saturday after viewing the video,” Mondary stated. “We were aware of this before it gained traction on social media, and we acted immediately. What I saw disappointed me—we do not want our officers speaking to the public in that manner.”
Five days after the incident, Chief Mondary confirmed the officer is no longer with the department. Citing the Peace Officers Bill of Rights (POBAR), he declined to provide further details.
The officer, a former U.S. Marine who joined the department in September 2017, has not been publicly named. Mondary declined to say whether the officer had any prior disciplinary history.
Amid social media speculation, Mondary also addressed claims of racial bias: “This incident had nothing to do with race. While the officer may appear to be white, he is Hispanic and has never shown any form of racial prejudice while serving in our department.”
Concerns were also raised about other officers allegedly covering their body cameras during the encounter. After reviewing the footage, Mondary said there was no evidence of any attempt to obscure the recordings. “The cameras were handheld, but the views were not obstructed.”
Despite not violating any laws, the incident has had a lasting impact. The department is dealing with the fallout internally.
“This has been traumatic for everyone involved,” Mondary said. “But we’ve also seen strong community support, which reminds us why public trust is so important. We are committed to law enforcement accountability and maintaining transparency.”
Mondary concluded by affirming the importance of community trust in law enforcement: “We’re not perfect, and we will make mistakes. But we will always strive to do our best and ensure the public feels safe and heard.”