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Local man arrested for auto theft
Ceres Cop Car

A 40-year-old Ceres man was arrested on Tuesday, Nov. 22 for felony auto theft, possession of stolen property, and probation violation after being found in a stolen vehicle.

At 3:01 p.m., Officer Justin Canatsy was patrolling in the area of Hatch Road and Herndon Avenue when he spotted a black 1990 Honda Accord reported stolen out of Manteca. The vehicle had pulled into Chevron on Herndon Road where the driver exited the vehicle. Canatsy held a gun on Rudy Guzman, 44, of Ceres, and ordered him to the ground while calling for additional officers. Sitting inside the car was passenger Carlos Perez, 40, of Ceres.

Once backup arrived, a high-risk stop was conducted and both men who were taken into custody without incident. A vehicle search revealed no contraband and it appeared the original ignition key was with the vehicle.

Guzman told police he purchased the vehicle from a friend in Manteca for $300 approximately two months ago and did not know it was stolen. Perez stated Guzman had the vehicle for about one month.

The owner of the Honda was notified and confirmed no one had permission to drive or take the vehicle. The owner said the Honda had broken down on Sept. 28 in the 400 block of Lincoln in Manteca and before he could get the car towed to his home in Ripon it had been stolen.

Both suspects were arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Jail. Guzman was charged with. Perez was charged with felony possession of stolen property and probation violation.