El Centro Police find stolen vehicle at local motel; suspects detained
Above: Military ordnance discovered during search of motel room | Photos: El Centro PD
Two people were arrested recently after El Centro police tracked a stolen vehicle to a motel they were staying at.
Just before noon on Sunday, February 7, officers located a Pontiac that had been reported stolen just hours earlier parked at a motel on the 400 block of Wake Avenue.
Officers also happened upon two people — later identified as 30-year-old Roberto Avila and 23-year-old Alexis Flores, both of El Centro — leaving their motel room carrying bags of property.
As officers were speaking with them, a member of the motel staff approached and told officers that Avila and Flores had a “military-type ordnance” in their room, prompting an immediate evacuation of the area and the summoning of El Centro Fire personnel and the Imperial County Bomb Squad.
After Bomb Squad determined the ordnance was safe, officers made entry into the room to conduct a search, reportedly discovering the keys to the stolen vehicle, stolen checks, and other items. Officers also found methamphetamine on Flores’ person, and an illegally modified shotgun and ammunition in the stolen car.
Avila was ultimately arrested and booked on suspicion of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of stolen checks, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Flores was issued a citation for possession of methamphetamine and a stolen vehicle.
