Car reported stolen out of Marysville spotted in Wheatland, driver arrested
YUBA COUNTY — A previously convicted felon has been arrested after allegedly being caught driving a stolen car with guns inside.
Authorities say that in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 18, a 2012 Nissan Altima that had been reported stolen out of Marysville was seen leaving the parking lot of the Hard Rock Casino on Forty Mile Road in Wheatland.
Around 30 minutes later, a deputy spotted the car traveling on Highway 65 just as it was exiting onto Forty Mile Road back towards the casino.
The deputy pulled the car over and ultimately took the driver, identified as 42-year-old Anthony Lira of Bangor, into custody. He then searched the vehicle and found two handguns, one of which was loaded and another had no serial number, in the trunk.
The vehicle’s owner was later called to the scene to retrieve it, and told deputies the guns did not belong to him and were not in the car when it was stolen.
Lira was ultimately booked at the Yuba County Jail.
