Woodland Police K-9 Unit Intercepts Suspects in Community Center Copper Theft Investigation
WOODLAND, CA– A late-night traffic stop by a Woodland Police Department K-9 officer led to the arrest of three Sacramento residents found with methamphetamine, heavy-gauge copper wire, and wire-stripping tools.
The incident follows a September 22, 2026 discovery at the Woodland Community Center, where several electrical boxes had been opened and stripped of copper wiring, disabling approximately 10 light poles.
At approximately 1:55 a.m. on September 24, 2026, a K-9 officer patrolling the Community Center observed a silver Honda enter the parking lot. Upon spotting the patrol vehicle, the driver immediately exited the area. The officer initiated a traffic stop and identified three occupants inside. A background check revealed that one passenger had outstanding arrest warrants out of Sacramento County.
During the stop, the police K-9 conducted an open-air sniff around the vehicle and alerted officers to the presence of narcotics. A subsequent search yielded several grams of methamphetamine, heavy-gauge copper wiring, and tools utilized for cutting and stripping wire.
Officers arrested all three occupants:
- Laura Thao, of Sacramento
- Koua Lor, of Sacramento
- Michael Sengphinith, of Sacramento
All three suspects were transported and booked into the Yolo County Jail on drug and theft-related charges.
The Woodland Police Department noted that the broader investigation into the initial copper wire thefts at the Community Center remains ongoing.
