3 Arrested In Stolen Car Investigation

PETALUMA, CA — Night-shift officers with the Petaluma Police Department recently recovered three cars reported stolen out of three North Bay cities, and made three arrests in connection with one of the cars.

The arrests were made around 12:40 a.m. Friday, Dec. 15 when a Petaluma police officer spotted someone driving a car reported stolen the day before out of Healdsburg.

Petaluma police officers performed a high-risk traffic stop and detained the driver, Alfonso Romero-Zuniga 30, of Sonoma County, and the passenger, Juan Guzman-Santiago, a 42-year-old Sonoma County resident.

A records check revealed both Romero-Zuniga and Guzman-Santiago were on multiple active probations out of Sonoma County, Petaluma police Lt. Matthew Parnow said.

"While performing the high-risk stop, a female approached officers and verbally began challenging them," Parnow said. "The woman, later identified as Susana Arias 33-year-old, a Santa Rosa resident, stated she had just bought the vehicle and was acquaintances with Romero-Zuniga and Guzman-Santiago."

Arias, who was also found to be on active Sonoma County probation, was also detained.

In a search of the car, officers found a punched ignition and multiple items of suspected stolen property. It is alleged that Guzman-Santiago was later found with the ignition cover.

The trio was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and probation violation.

Nearly a week later, the investigation was continuing as police had yet to identify the owners of the stolen property.

"If anyone has information regarding this incident, please contact Officer Jacob Boes at (707)781-1262," Parnow said. "This was the third stolen vehicle recovered by Petaluma PD patrol officers working night shift between 12/13-12/15."

The cars were originally stolen from Vallejo, San Rafael and Healdsburg, the lieutenant said.

Jail records showed Arias, Romero-Zuniga and Guzman-Santiago were no longer in custody Friday.

It was not clear whether their arrests were possibly related to a stolen car investigation by the Healdsburg Police Department.