Photo: Mauricio Nava
A Visalia resident’s day did not get off to a great start the morning of April 8, 2020 when they had to report their Hyundai Santa Fe stolen.
All was not lost. That afternoon, detectives of Tulare County Regional Auto Theft Task Force located the car and followed it to Dinuba where they signaled for a traffic stop.
in Nava’s car
The driver, later identified as 20-year old Mauricio Nava, took this opportunity to reverse the stolen car into the patrol car.
This did not prevent the eventual arrest of the vehicle’s three occupants.
In the car detectives found a semi-automatic 9mm pistol, equipped with an un-serialized 80% lower receiver, and a 30-round capacity 9mm magazine containing 21 bullets.
11 grams of narcotics were also found, along with a scale, and cash. Nava and one other passenger were charged with weapons and drug-related violations, on top of the stolen vehicle charges.
Photos from Visalia Police Department
