Sonoma Raceway mechanic arrested for grand theft of customized racing wheels
ABOVE: Tires of similar appearance to the ones reported stolen (Sonoma County Sheriff)
PETALUMA // A 49-year-old Petaluma man has been arrested for grand theft after an employee at a company at Sonoma Raceway found eight customized racing wheels from his shop posted for sale on Craigslist.
While the theft had actually occurred in November or December of last year, the employee hadn’t noticed they were missing until finding them for sale on Craigslist in late February. Detectives contacted the seller and made arrangements to purchase the tires — valued at around $6,000 — for $800.
When detectives met with the seller in Novato, it was quickly determined that he hadn’t been involved in the crime. The tires, of which he had only four, were reportedly passed along to him by the actual suspect — later identified as 49-year-old Jordan Slater of Petaluma, a mechanic at another business along the Sonoma Raceway — in exchange for discounted auto parts, with Slater claiming that they were simply spare tires from his garage.
A search warrant was later served at Slater’s home on the 900 block of Ely Boulevard on Tuesday, February 27th. While the remaining four tires were not located, Slater was arrested for grand theft charges and booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
He has since posted bail of $5,000.
Anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of the four remaining tires is asked to contact Sonoma County Sheriff’s Detectives at 707-565-2185.
