Burglary Suspect From Palm Desert Arrested After Manhunt

LA QUINTA, CA – A 21-year-old man out on bail allegedly broke into a home and led deputies on an hour-long manhunt, before being arrested in a La Quinta neighborhood, deputies said Sunday.

Elias Easal Cruz of Palm Desert remained in the Indio Jail Sunday, booked on suspicion of residential burglary, committing a felony while out on bail and receiving stolen property.

A silent burglar alarm alerted deputies of the break in at 2:10 p.m. Saturday, in the 53000 block of Avenida Montezuma, according to a Riverside County Sheriff's Department crime report.

When deputies arrived at the residence, they saw the suspect exit the home from a rear door and climb over a wall.

Deputies called in a California Highway Patrol helicopter and a police dog to help search for the suspect, who was ultimately found about an hour later hiding in a backyard in the 53000 block of Avenida Cortez, said the report.

Cruz was arrested with the aid of the deputies' dog. Then, deputies discovered that their suspect had driven to the location of the burglary in a stolen vehicle.

Cruz remained jail in lieu of $55,000 bail.

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--City News Service/Image via Riverside County Sheriff