The observations of a Ceres Police officer led to the recovery of a stolen white 2013 Ford Expedition early Tuesday, Oct. 11 and the arrest of the suspect man driving it.

At 4:03 a.m., Officer Eric Souza was rolling through the parking lot of the AM/PM at 2301 Crows Landing Road when he observed the stolen vehicle in the parking lot. The vehicle had been reported stolen in Modesto the prior day. 

As Officer Souza spotted the vehicle, he saw it exiting the lot and turning onto Crows Landing Road. Officer Souza followed the vehicle until other units arrived and a traffic stop was initiated at Ustick and W. Hackett roads.

Driver Adam Moore, 37, of Modesto, was ordered out and later arrested without incident. Moore was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charge of auto theft and possession of a stolen vehicle.