Photo: Jose Ruiz
Originally published as a Kern County Sheriff’s Office Nixle post –
“On January 12, 2021, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit detectives, along with detectives from the Kings County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit and Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture Unit, responded to the area of Weedpatch Highway and Redbank Road regarding stolen trailers and tractors.
Detectives with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office located a utility trailer, a Big Tex Utility Trailer, and an enclosed trailer. All three trailers had been reported stolen. The total value of all three trailers was approximately $25,000. No arrests were made.
On January 14, 2021, Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crime Investigation Unit detectives responded to the 1300 block of E. 19th Street and Miller Street regarding a theft of a trailer and a possible chop shop. Detectives located multiple stolen trailers, a stolen vehicle, and a stolen forklift.
Detectives recovered a Sutter Buttes fuel trailer, Wells Cargo enclosed trailer, a Look enclosed trailer, a specially made tilt trailer, a Yale Forklift, and a Ford Fusion. The total value of all recovered vehicles and trailers was approximately $42,242.
During the investigation into the chop shop, Jose Ruiz, 24, from Bakersfield, California, was determined to be in possession of all the stolen vehicles and maintaining a chop shop.
Ruiz was placed under arrest for VC 10801- Own/Maintaining a Chop Shop, PC 496D(A)- possession of a stolen vehicle, VC 10851(A)- Vehicle Theft, and PC 487(K)- Grand Theft of Farm Equipment.”
