Suspects were captured here
NOVATO — Police tracked a cell phone left inside a stolen truck to locate and arrest two men and one woman on October 14—for carjacking, drug trafficking, and other misdeeds.
The two men Casey H. Brown, 20 of Petaluma; and Jose L. Lara, 36 of Santa Rosa, allegedly carjacked a truck in Mill Valley on October 13. The victim activated a GPS function to locate his lost phone inside the truck, which led police to the suspects at the Days Inn, located at 8141 Redwood Boulevard in Novato.
The stolen truck was linked to room rented to a woman, 35-year-old Tasha R. Deem of Santa Rosa, who along with Brown and Lara were detained by Novato officers as they attempted to leave the hotel.
Inside the hotel room officers found nearly 9 pounds of cannabis, 2.2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine, and an assortment of suspected stolen property.
An investigation determined that the suspects were apparently involved with a residential burglary in Mill Valley, a rental car reported stolen in San Rafael, and six other reported thefts.
Brown, Lara and Deem were each arrested on suspicion of carjacking, vehicle theft, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of stolen property and conspiracy to commit a crime, among other charges.
All three suspects are being held in custody at Marin County Jail on open charges, each of them in lieu of $150,000 bond.
Brown and Deem both have prior arrest records for burglary, possession controlled substances for sale, and numerous other offenses.
