Cop Charged With Assault On Teens Following DHS High School Incident

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA — A former Desert Hot Springs police officer was charged last week with assault and other crimes in connection with use of force against juveniles a year ago.

On Nov. 7, 2025, Johnny Acosta, 30, was formally charged with one count each of assault with a gun, assault by a public officer and filing a false report — all felonies. The accused has yet to be arraigned.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, its investigators were asked by the DHS Police Department to look into Acosta following a Nov. 8, 2024, incident at Desert Hot Springs High School.

Shortly before 2 a.m. that morning, DHS police were called to the school at 65850 Pierson Boulevard regarding an alleged burglary and vandalism of the concession stand near the campus's football field.

Acosta, who was still a DHS police officer, was on the call. When officers arrived at the scene, they spotted four males inside the concession stand. All of the suspects took off running, but one individual was quickly apprehended and "a use-of-force incident occurred," according to the sheriff's department and DHS police.

After searching the area, officers found a second suspect, "and an additional use-of-force incident took place during that arrest," the law enforcement agencies reported.

Both of the suspects were 17-years-old, and one suffered minor injuries during the arrests, the sheriff's department said.

Acosta was involved in both uses of force, according to the DHS Police Department. During an ongoing internal investigation of Acosta, the DHS Police Department also requested the sheriff's department to conduct an independent investigation into the officer.

The results of the investigations were handed over to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, which led to the formal charges against Acosta.

On Nov. 7, 2025, Acosta was arrested without incident by members of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office Gang Impact Team. He was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, and his bail was set at $30,000.

Acosta remains out of custody pending his next court appearance.

On Nov. 8, 2024, Acosta was placed on administrative leave by the DHS Police Department, and on March 27, 2025, he was fired, according to the agency.