A San Bernardino man who allegedly shoplifted from a Cathedral City Target store, then led police on a high speed pursuit into Palm Springs, was in custody Friday.
Darquise Smith, 31, is accused of stealing electronics from the Target at 67750 East Palm Canyon Drive at 4:16 p.m. Thursday, then assaulting a store security guard who tried to detain him, according to Cathedral City Sgt. Nate Hanley.
As Cathedral City officers arrived at the scene, Smith was allegedly speeding away in a vehicle. Officers gave chase, but terminated the pursuit for safety reasons as Smith entered Palm Springs city limits, Hanley said.
Cathedral City police relayed their suspect information to Palm Springs police, who later found Smith and his car in the 2400 block of East Palm Canyon Drive.
Smith was arrested on suspicion of robbery and evading arrest and was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A cavity search of Smith at the county jail also revealed stolen property related to a separate Palm Desert theft, which is being investigated by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Hanley said.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident was asked to call the Cathedral City Police Department at (760) 770-0300 and ask to speak with Det. Sgt. Sanchez.