Americas Best Value Inn
NOVATO – Police conducted a stakeout near a hotel parking lot on Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of a woman accused of vehicle theft, drug possession, identity theft, and other crimes.
A patrol car passing Americas Best Value Inn at 7600 Redwood Boulevard, equipped with a license plate scanner, detected a stolen vehicle parked there on February 20. Police placed the unoccupied vehicle under surveillance and waited.
Officers saw two persons enter the vehicle and start driving away from the parking lot, before pulling over and arresting the driver Mary K. Ripple, 39, a healthcare worker who lives in San Rafael. She’s being held in Marin County Jail for $80,000 bond.
Ripple is charged with taking a vehicle without consent, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, identity theft, mail theft, and forgery.
A 46-year-old man who was riding with Ripple was cited by police, on suspicion of possessing an illegal imitation gun.
