Traffic Stop Conducted by Sheriff’s Deputy Leads to Discovery of Stolen Motorcycle
SONOMA COUNTY, CA — “On June 21, 2026, at approximately 8:18 p.m., a Sonoma County Sheriff’s deputy assigned to the Patrol Division observed a motorcycle traveling near Fulton Road and Occidental Road with expired registration.
Deputies conducted a traffic stop and contacted the rider, identified as 51-year-old Joseph Kahala. During the investigation, deputies discovered the motorcycle was displaying a license plate assigned to a different motorcycle. A records check of the motorcycle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) revealed the motorcycle had been reported stolen by the Santa Rosa Police Department.
The deputy determined the motorcycle had been ‘cold plated,’ a tactic commonly used to conceal stolen vehicles by displaying a license plate assigned to another vehicle.
Kahala was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on charges including possession of a stolen vehicle and related violations. The motorcycle was recovered and released to its registered owner.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to recovering stolen property and protecting our communities.”
