Duo Suspected in Series of Burglaries, Stealing Expensive Items Across the Region

One of two alleged serial burglars suspected of thefts in several Coachella Valley cities, as well as two in San Bernardino County, was behind bars Thursday.

Arthur Byrd, 41, of Cathedral City was arrested Tuesday while running from a traffic stop in Cathedral City near Dinah Shore and Date Palm drives, sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Eller said.

A passenger, Kaylah Long, 21, of Desert Hot Springs was arrested, but no booking information was available.

"Both suspects were also found to be in possession of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine and a large amount of U.S. currency," he said.

Electronic items such as iPads that were stolen in Yucaipa, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and other cities were found in the car, Eller said.

The two were arrested on suspicion of burglaries that occurred April 24-27.

Before the man was taken into custody, though, he apparently put up a fight.

The sergeant said that when deputies tried to initiate a traffic stop, Byrd jumped out of the moving vehicle and ran. 

"The Burglary Suppression Unit deputies chased the suspect who ran across Date Palm behind several local businesses," Eller said.  "After a short foot chase, the deputies located the suspect who resisted arrest and a struggle ensued, resulting in the suspect receiving moderate injuries."

Byrd also was wanted on two felony burglary warrants, the sergeant said.  The woman did not resist arrest, and surrendered.

A follow-up search of a storage unit in the 72-000 block of Varner Road in Thousand Palms tuned up more property reported stolen in in Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, Redlands and other cities, Eller said.

Byrd was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on $25,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Friday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio. Long was booked into the county jail in Indio and posted a $5,000 bond on Tuesday, according to jail records.

Anyone with more information about the burglaries was asked to call deputies at (760) 836-1688.

– City News Service contributed to this report.