Man arrested on suspicion of catalytic converter theft

“On April 11, 2022 at 6 A.M. the Yuba City Police Department received a call from the business owner of Garden Highway Auto Clinic, located in the 600 block of Garden Highway.

The owner said there was a flashlight seen moving around under a vehicle. When officers arrived on scene, they could hear the sounds of a Sawzall saw cutting metal.

As the officers began searching the lot, they saw a male crawl out from underneath a vehicle and begin to run, while still holding a Sawzall.

The officers chased after him and caught him after a short foot chase. The officers identified the man as 25-year-old Shawn Melendy, from Marina California.

Officers located additional Sawzall blades near two vehicles, and one catalytic converter cut from a vehicle lying on the ground. Officers located another catalytic converter already in Mr. Melendy’s vehicle.

Mr. Melendy was arrested for possession of burglary tools and grand theft. He was booked into the Sutter County Jail and the case has been turned over to the Sutter County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.”