A Palm Springs man is now behind bars following a series of threats issued to employees of a local news organization. Johnnie Pagels, 71, has been arrested after an intensive investigation by local authorities linked him with unsettling letters received by the journalistic outfit. These letters, delivered by traditional postal service, were found to contain explicit threats that went as far as naming specific individuals at the organization.
According to a statement from the Riverside County Sheriff's Office, Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station investigators and the United States Postal Inspector’s Service collaborated closely to trace the origin of these threats. With investigative leads guiding their search, they were able to pinpoint Pagels as the prime suspect. On December 3, a search warrant was executed at Pagel's residence on East Alejo Road in Palm Springs, where he was detained without incident.
Pagels now faces the serious charges of criminal threats and stalking as he was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center. While the arrest may bring some relief to the targets of his alleged harassment, the Sheriff's Office has clarified that this matter is still an active investigation; thus, further details remain scarce.
