CAR THIEF ARRESTED AFTER JOSHUA TREE CAR AND FOOT CHASE

A Desert Hot Springs man was arrested early Monday morning, accused of stealing a car in Joshua Tree. According to a Sheriff’s report, the owner of the 1992 Honda Civic discovered just after midnight Monday his car was missing from his driveway in the 61400 block of Sunburst Drive. The owner still had the keys in his possession. A few minutes later, a California Highway Patrol officer tried to stop the Honda at Highway 62 and Sunburst Avenue. The suspected car thief fled, driving southbound on Easterly Drive and then into the desert. The driver, later identified as Eric Mastas, 29, then bailed from the car and ran into the desert. Deputies and CHP officers located him in a wash about 20 minutes later. Eric Mastas was arrested for investigation of grand theft auto and felony failure to yield. He was booked at the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $100,000.