A Yucca Valley man who was arrested Wednesday following a traffic stop has been identified by the Sheriff’s Department as a suspect in two cactus thefts. On May 14, residents in the 8100 block of Church Street and 58600 block of Santa Barbara Drive discovered that thieves had stolen barrel cactus—valued at $300 and $450, respectively—from their yards. Deputy Shauna Ables viewed video surveillance and interviewed an eye-witness and concluded the cactus were stolen by the same suspects. The video showed a man and a woman and their vehicle, a red Toyota 4-Runner. On Wednesday, Daryll Speer, 22, was arrested following a traffic stop at Balsa Avenue and Highway 62, in which his red Toyota 4-Runner, had a false registration sticker on its license plate. Through investigation, Ables identified Daryll Speer and Sataira Mason, 30, of Yucca Valley, as suspects in the cactus thefts. A report has been sent to the District Attorney’s office for review and possible charges.
