Police arrest man with meth after victim tracks down stolen cell phone

A Rancho Mirage man was arrested over the weekend in connection to a residential burglary in Palm Springs. The burglary was reported around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Malachi George Baird, 35, was taken into custody after the burglary victim called police to say he was actively tracking his stolen cell phone. According to the Palm Springs Police Department, the victim said he watched Baird park a white Ford Mustang and then walk to a nearby bus stop.

Officers arrived and made contact with Baird. They said the found the victim’s stolen cell phone, drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and several items stolen from the victim’s home.

Police said they also found property that was fraudulently purchased at a local business with the victim’s stolen credit card.

On top of all of the stolen property that was recovered, officers discovered the Ford Mustang Baird was driving was also reported stolen during a residential burglary in Rancho Mirage.

Baird was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on several charges:

Commercial burglary
Possession of a stolen vehicle
Possession of stolen property
Possession of a concealed dirk or dagger
Possession of a stolen access card
Use of a stolen access card
Possession of a controlled substance
Possession of drug paraphernalia