Photo: Lee (l) and Xiong
Originally published as a City of San Luis Obispo press release –
“On May 25, 2021, at approximately 4:10 am, San Luis Obispo Police Department officers responded to the 1800 block of Devaul for a theft of a catalytic converter that had just occurred. The suspects fled in a silver Toyota Prius before officers arrived on the scene.
Shortly thereafter, a SLOPD officer saw a silver Toyota Prius in the area of Marsh and Higuera and stopped the vehicle. In his subsequent investigation, the officer was able to see in plain view 8 catalytic converters in the rear passenger area of the car. The officer also recovered various tools used in the theft on the converters along with suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Vue Xiong, the driver of the suspect vehicle, and his passenger, Gary Lee, both from Merced were arrested for the following charges:
Vue Xiong: PC 496, Possession of Stolen Property, PC 182 Conspiracy, PC 466 Possession of Burglary Tools, HS 11377 Possession of Methamphetamines, HS 11364 Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia, and VC 10852 Vehicle Tampering.
Gary Lee: PC 496, Possession of Stolen Property, PC 182 Conspiracy, PC 466 Possession of Burglary Tools, and VC 10852 Vehicle Tampering.
Vue Xiong is still in custody being held on $60,000 worth of warrants from El Dorado and Merced Counties. Gary Lee is not in custody after being released due to the constraints of the State Emergency Bail Schedule.
San Luis Obispo Police Detectives are actively investigating this case to determine if there are more victims yet to be identified in our City. The Police department did respond earlier in the evening to a theft of a catalytic converter at 1420 Palm but have not been able to confirm one of the recover converters belong to that victim’s vehicle. This investigation is ongoing.”
