2 Arrests Made In North Bay Chop Shop Investigation

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — California Highway Patrol detectives with the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force — SonCATT — along with deputies and detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, recently arrested two people in connection with an unlicensed vehicle repair shop in Santa Rosa.

It is alleged that when detectives went to the suspected chop shop March 22 to serve a warrant, there were dozens of cars in various states of repair or destruction. Seven of the vehicles were identified as being stolen, the CHP said. It is alleged that all seven of the vehicles had various parts and components removed and the vehicle identification numbers — VINs— were altered or were in the process of being destroyed to hide their true identity.

Pablo Gonzalez Rojas, 21, and Leonardo Sanchez Roman, 33, both of Santa Rosa, were arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of their involvement in the car thefts and chop shop operation, the CHP said.

As detectives continued to pursue leads in the case, authorities asked anyone with pertinent information to call the CHP Investigation Tipline at 707-917-4491.

SonCATT, a multi-agency task force comprised of personnel from the California Highway Patrol, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, focuses on vehicle theft-related investigations in Sonoma County.