Public Safety
Man Suspected in Fatal Palm Springs Hit-and-Run to be Arraigned
PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – A man accused in the hit-and-run death of a 39- year-old man in Palm Springs more than a year ago is set to be arraigned in late August.
Chad Steinmetz, 42, had a warrant issued for his arrest May 24, when he was also charged with one felony count of a hit-and-run causing death, according to court records.
Steinmetz was arrested at around 11 a.m. May 31 near Merle Drive in Palm Desert and booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, according to inmate records. He posted $75,000 bail and was released from jail the same day.
He’s set to be arraigned Aug. 24 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.
“The Palm Springs Police Department would like to extend its sincere appreciation for the outstanding investigative work conducted by the Traffic Division,” police said in a statement. “Despite initially having only vehicle parts left at the scene of the crash, their efforts, combined with the support of the community, enabled the resolution of this case.”
The fatal hit-and-run occurred at about 6:40 a.m. on May 27, 2022, near East Palm Canyon and South Broadmoor drives. Jessie Fleury of San Jacinto was struck and left lying on a dirt shoulder of the roadway, according to the Palm Springs Police Department. Fleury was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said a red 2012-16 Porsche 911 Carrera struck Fleury and a shopping cart. The day of the crash, police asked for the public’s help to find the suspect vehicle, which had front-end damage.
According to a declaration in support of Steinmetz’s arrest filed by the PSPD, Steinmetz allegedly took his vehicle to a body shop the following morning to get it fixed and then drove past the location of the collision as officers continued investigating.
Steinmetz was allegedly at bars the night of the collision and left at around 2 a.m., shortly before the collision, police wrote. Based on his electronic records, Steinmetz was also allegedly following articles about the collision and the investigation.
On June 6, 2022, officers found a vehicle fitting the description, but the registered owner was not cooperating with investigators, according to police.
“The response from the community was remarkable, as several tips were provided that helped the investigators with the case,” Palm Springs police said in a statement. “Subsequently, the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run was located at a collision repair center in Cathedral City, allowing the identification of the driver, (Steinmetz).”
Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
By: Pristine Villarreal
June 7, 2023
Latest Instagram Posts
CALIFORNIA IS AGING FAST... BUT WHERE WILL THE WORKFORCE LIVE? #therogginreport #coachellavalley #localnews #agingpopulation #nbcpalmsprings
119 jobs on the line and DRD’s General Manager won’t answer questions … Drop a comment 👇: Would you vote YES or NO on giving a district more money if they refuse to answer transparency questions? #therogginreport #drd #coachellavalley #localnews #nbcpalmsprings
Help us choose the next NBC Palm Springs Fan of the Week! Vote for Video 1, 2, 3 or 4. The fan with the most votes will win a pair of tickets to next week’s Coachella Valley Firebirds game! Voting ends Thursday. Who’s your pick?
Spirit Halloween has revealed its top Halloween costume trends for 2026, and pop culture is driving the picks. Off Campus, Toy Story, K-pop Demon Hunters, superheroes, Greek gods and warriors — and plenty of Dolly Partons — are expected to be popular. What are you dressing up as this Halloween? #Halloween2026 #SpiritHalloween #HalloweenCostumes #nbcpalmsprings
After a car drove through a walkway, damaging Bill’s Pizza, the restaurant appears to have begun repairs and is still open the following day. The neighboring store, Gallivant was also damaged and is closed until Monday. The store has a gofundme page opened for them by a neighboring bookstore to support the cost of the damages. NBC Palm Springs is following the effects of this accident and what this means to the Palm Springs community. #billspizza #palmsprings #continuingcoverage #localnews #coachellavalley
Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are using bioengineered baker's yeast to break down plastic into ingredients for cookies.
Camden, Arkansas, is the unlikely hub of US missile manufacturing after years of conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East have drained the country's arsenal. But the Trump administration's push to scale up defense production is colliding with the limits of the small, rural town.
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 1) Devin Session with the diving TD, 2) Mason Flores with the dot on the run, 3) Reese Johnson with the clutch FG, 4) Kaylaun Smith running over defenders, or 5) Joshua Perez with the TD throw. #hondaofthedesert #fnl #fridaynightlights #fyp #highschoolfootball
🏒🔥 LET’S HEAR FROM TIM O’BRIEN! We’re kicking off Coachella Valley Firebirds Opening Night and catching up with Tim O’Brien! Hear what he has to say as the Firebirds get ready to hit the ice for another exciting season. 🏒🔥 #CoachellaValleyFirebirds #Firebirds #OpeningNight #Hockey #CoachellaValley PalmSprings CVFirebirds
SHARE this reel to help find ‘The Fab 5’ a home! 🐶🤍 #therogginreport #palmsprings #dogrescue #coachellavalley #nbcpalmsprings