Jamestown, CA – Early morning on Monday, March 12, 2018, two Sonora Area CHP officers paired up in one patrol vehicle recovered two occupied stolen vehicles. Just after 12:30 am, two officers working a graveyard shift were traveling westbound on State Route 108 approaching Yosemite Junction (SR-120). At this time, they observed a silver Honda Accord traveling eastbound on State Route 108, approaching their location, at a high rate of speed. The officers ultimately made enforcement stop on the vehicle for speeding in excess of 20 miles per hour over the posted 55 mph maximum speed limit. The vehicle did not have license plates and the driver and two passengers could not provide any form of identification or documentation for the vehicle.

A records check on the vehicle’s VIN through CHP dispatch alerted them that the vehicle had been stolen four days earlier on March 8th from Modesto. The driver was identified as Eric Dwight Shirley, 28 years old. His two passengers were identified as Alex William Ware, 31years old, and Tracy Renee Sossamon, 39 years old. All three occupants are Modesto residents. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were located during a search of the vehicle and their persons. Shirley was arrested and booked at Tuolumne County Jail for Grand Theft Auto, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, and Driving on a Suspended License. Ware was cited and released for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Sossamon was cited and released for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

At approximately 4:25 hours, the same two officers were dispatched to the area of Bear Creek gas station at Black Oak Casino. Security there had observed a red Ford Taurus pull up to a gas pump. The driver (solo occupant) was acting strange for more than ten minutes without attempting to pump gas. Security attempted to contact the driver to conduct a welfare check. The driver refused to speak to him and walked away towards Tuolumne City, leaving the vehicle behind. Security contacted CHP dispatch and was informed that the vehicle was recently reported stolen from Sonora. The CHP officers located the subject on Tuolumne Road, just west of Tuolumne Road North. The subject was identified as Aaron David Alves, 25 years old from Jamestown. The subject was subsequently arrested and booked at Tuolumne County Jail for Grand Theft Auto.

By Faustino Pulido, #18644, CHP, Sonora Area