A 21-year-old Joshua Tree man was arrested Monday afternoon following a foot chase at the Westfield Mall in Palm Desert. Store owners called Sheriff’s deputies about 1:30 to report that Matthew Stewart was walking through the mall and stealing items from stores. Authorities say when mall security tried to stop Stewart, he fled into the parking lot near Macy’s. Deputies pursued Stewart toward JC Penny where he was tackled at a store entrance. After being treated at a hospital for his injuries suffered from being tackled, Matthew Stewart, was booked at the Riverside County Jail in Indio on suspicion of commercial burglary and evading arrest.
