LASD Officers Have to Wake Up Suspect to Arrest Her for Drug Charges, Car Theft
- June 15, 2012
- recovery stories
On May 4, 2012, the owner of a 1999 Honda Civic contacted the Downey Police Department to report the vehicle stolen. Downey officers verified the theft and entered the Honda’s information into the state and federal crime computers, which automatically activated the LoJack transponder concealed in the vehicle.
A short while later, a Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Lakewood unit picked up the LoJack signal from the victim’s stolen 1999 Honda Civic on the LoJack Police Tracking Computer installed in his patrol vehicle. Following the directional and audible cues from the LoJack computers, the deputy quickly located the Honda, parked with its engine running, with a woman in the driver’s seat and a man standing beside the vehicle talking to the driver. When requested back-up units arrived, the deputy conducted a high risk traffic stop, taking both suspects into custody. The investigating deputies discovered that the female suspect had used a shaved key to start the vehicle. The female suspect admitted to driving the vehicle knowing it was stolen and during the interview she fell asleep. The deputies had to wake her up to complete the interview. The female suspect was arrested for Driving without Owners Consent and drug violations. The male suspect was arrested on various drug charges. Lakewood Detectives are conducting the follow-up investigations.