A suspect in several burglaries who allegedly led police on a high-speed chase into Cathedral City was behind bars today.
Palm Springs resident Waldo Craig Barker, 36, was arrested about 7:20 p.m. Monday near Date Palm Drive and Interstate 10 in Cathedral City, about 15 minutes after a police officer spotted him in a car in Palm Springs, Palm Springs police Sgt. Mike Kovaleff said.
The officer was patrolling the 1800 block of East Rochelle Road when he saw Barker stopped in a 1997 Pontiac Grand Am and recognized him as a wanted felon. Barker, who had a felony warrant for his arrest, is a suspect in two residential burglaries, two vehicle burglaries and a vehicle theft — all of which occurred recently in Palm Springs.
The officer stopped his patrol car in front of Barker’s car and, at gunpoint, ordered him to turn off the car. Barker backed up and sped away. The ensuing pursuit lasted about 10 minutes, as Barker led the officers about 10 miles into Cathedral City at speeds up to about 120 mph, Kovaleff said.
Barker lost control of his car as he tried to enter eastbound I-10 from northbound Date Palm and struck a barrier, Kovaleff said. He was arrested, treated for minor injuries and booked at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, with bail set at $100,000.
He is expected to be arraigned Thursday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to jail records.
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