Sonora, CA…A Sheriff’s Deputy patrolling on Mono Way near the Junction Shopping Center in Sonora, observed a silver Mercedes Benz driving through the stop light at Tuolumne Road and Mono Way at a high rate of speed. By the time the deputy turned around to locate the vehicle, it was gone. A records check of the vehicle’s license plate determined it was reported stolen out of Visalia in March of this year.

A short time later, the same Mercedez Benz pulled out of the Black Oak Casino parking garage in front of the deputy and a traffic enforcement stop was initiated. The vehicle came to a stop in a driveway of a home on Tuolumne Road North. The driver identified himself as 57-year-old Daniel Rodriguez of Tuolumne.

During an inventory search of the vehicle, a glass methamphetamine smoking pipe with residue, 32 pills of tramadol, and a replica 1911 BB gun were found in the vehicle.

Rodriguez was arrested and booked into the Tuolumne County Jail for vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.

The stolen vehicle was turned over to CHP and the registered owner will be contacted.

“Don’t you know you’re not supposed to take things that don’t belong to you?” The Grinch who stole Christmas.

Words to live by!