Officer Accused Of Fatally Crashing Into PSPD Officer Heads Back To Court January 29th

Juliana Granados appeared in court for her third hearing, a preliminary hearing in Indio Friday morning.

Prosecutors called upon more than seven individuals to take the stand, claiming Granados lied about drinking and using her phone, moments leading up to the crash.

Granados is being accused of fatally crashing into off-duty Palm Springs Community Service Officer Nicholas Griego.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office called on a handful of speakers to testify, on evidence they gathered in the moments before and after the crash.

One employee from the Cathedral City Police Department says Granados told her she had consumed water and one alcoholic beverage earlier that day.

"She indicated that she had been drinking water from a flask that she brought into a restaurant with her, and that she also had consumed one beer." the Cathedral City Police Department detective says.

Through further investigation, that same CCPD detective noted that Granados had previously been at a restaurant named Fireside Lounge, alongside Griego.

The detective says Granados was following Griego, who she considered a friend, home.

Mark Novy, a Cathedral City Police Officer at the scene, explains what he observed moments after the accident, "She was calling out to Mr. Griego, while also manipulating her cell phone, apparently making phone calls on her cell phone."

Granados will show up for an arraignment on February 7th, but until then she and John Patrick Dolan, her defense attorney will prepare for trial.

“We’re very disappointed that the court determined that there is probable cause for both counts in this case. We will file a motion to dismiss both of the charges and if that motion is denied then we will take it to the appealing court or the Supreme Court.” Dolan says.