Suspected Car Thief Arrested in Palm Desert

A suspected car thief posing as a pastor of an Episcopal church in Palm Desert was arrested Saturday following a foot chase across the often-busy Highway 74, a sheriff's sergeant said.

Sheriff's deputies investigating a trespassing call at 7:50 a.m. found Mark Dean Chaffins, 41, of Rancho Mirage, in the sanctuary near the pulpit of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church on Highway 74, Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Devinny said.

Chaffins allegedly told deputies he was a church employee preparing a sermon and left when deputies learned he was not. Chaffins also left behind a car he initially denied ever having, which prompted deputies to try and talk to him a second time at another church north of St. Margaret's, Devinny said.

Chaffins bolted across Highway 74 when he was approached, according to Devinny. Deputies caught up with Chaffins, handcuffed him and took him back to St. Margaret's, where they learned the car with no license plates was reported stolen out of Palm Springs, according to Devinny.

Deputies found Chaffins had the car keys, according to Devinny. Church employees at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church told deputies there was evidence of a break-in, the sergeant said.

Chaffins was arrested for suspicion of burglary, vehicle theft, possession of methamphetamine, resisting a peace officer and other offenses, Devinny said.

Chaffins had previously been booked for receiving known stolen property and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, and had been released Nov. 6 after posting $10,000 bail, according to online jail records.

— City News Service