North County men found with stolen goods
August 24, 2015
Manuel Padilla Jr.
Paso Robles police have returned more than $5,000 worth of construction tools and equipment to the rightful owner and arrested the alleged thieves.
The arrests occurred after an officer drove through a parking lot in the 2700 block of Black Oak Drive. He spotted a 2004 Chevrolet pickup and an enclosed utility trailer without proper licensing.
The officer used a DMV database to determine a stolen license plate was attached to the trailer. The plate belonged to a trailer that was reported stolen from an unincorporated area of San Luis Obispo County.
Two suspects, both of whom are 32-years-old, attempted to walk away from the vehicle. The officer stopped the suspects, who were identified as San Miguel resident Manuel Padilla Jr. and Paso Robles resident Humberto Aguilar Lopez.
Padilla is on felony probation for drug charges. Officers searched the truck and found a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Humberto Aguilar Lopez
Police managed to locate the owner of the stolen construction equipment. Officers returned the items at the scene.
Officers booked Padilla and Lopez in San Luis Obispo County Jail on charges of possession of stolen property. Police will also file charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia with the district attorney’s office.
Padilla is likewise charged with violating his probation.
Paso Robles officers are working with the county sheriff’s office and the Auto Theft Task Force to determine if Padilla and Lopez are responsible for other thefts in the county.
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