Donald Wayne Fouse, 62, of Empire, was arrested by Ceres Police on Monday, July 31 after he was stopped in a stolen van.

Officer Vince Hooper was patrolling the area on Mitchell and Fowler roads at 9:40 p.m. when he noticed a maroon colored Dodge minivan driving northbound Mitchell Road with expired registration tags. A check revealed the license plate was switched out from a 1996 Honda. Hooper stopped the vehicle in the Walmart parking lot and ordered the driver out of the van at gunpoint. Hooper conducted a check of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and learned the van was reported stolen on March 20 in Modesto. The license plates attached to the van were for a Honda that Fouse owned.

During questioning Fouse gave several conflicting stories about how he got the vehicle. Fouse did not admit to stealing the vehicle, but admitted to possession of stolen property.

The rightful owner of the van arrived at the scene and stated the vehicle was stolen from his driveway after leaving the keys inside the vehicle.

Fouse was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail for felony auto theft and possession of stolen property.