Deputies: Recently-released vehicle theft suspect caught towing stolen trailer, mower
A man recently released from jail in a vehicle theft case has been arrested again after allegedly being caught towing both a stolen trailer and lawnmower.
Jonathan Haney
According to an official press release, on the night of April 18, a Monterey County Sheriff’s deputy spotted Jonathan Haney (36) of Salinas towing a white trailer with no license plate along Highway 101 near Laurel Drive.
The trailer reportedly had no license plate and, the deputy noticed, bore a striking resemblance to one that had recently been reported stolen out of San Lucas. In fact, it was his own wife — also a deputy — who had taken the report.
The deputy switched his lights on and moved to pull Haney over, but he pulled over on his own and got out of the vehicle to inspect the tires — almost as if he was trying to avoid the pretense of a traffic stop.
When questioned about the trailer and its lack of plates, Haney said he’d borrowed it from a friend. The riding lawnmower chained to the trailer was also quite the coincidence, as the deputy’s partners had recently taken a report of a lawnmower stolen out of San Lucas.
When the deputy asked for his driver’s license, Haney admitted to having been released from jail in a vehicle theft case only nine days earlier.
The deputy called his wife to verify it was indeed the stolen trailer, as well as pulling the burglary report to verify the description of the mower. Two for two. Another $1500 in stolen tools was also found in the SUV Haney was driving.
Haney has since been arrested and booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, and grand theft during a state of emergency.
