Palo Alto police arrested a woman who they say falsely identified herself after officers searched the car she was in and found a handgun, suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and pepper spray on Wednesday afternoon.
The arrest occurred after officers stopped the woman when she and another woman were driving an unregistered Buick LaSabre in the 400 block of Quarry Road, near Stanford Shopping Center, around 4:30 p.m. The passenger said the car belonged to her and gave officers permission to search it, according to a news release from the Palo Alto Police Department. She also identified herself with a name and a date of birth of someone who was on probation for robbery, according to the police.
After officers found the 9mm handgun, the paraphernalia, the pepper spray and the suspected methamphetamine, they had the car towed and released the driver after determining that she had not committed any crimes, according to the news release. They also learned, however, that the passenger had falsely identified herself and that she had two outstanding warrants out of San Joaquin County for theft and vandalism, police said.
The woman, a 45-year-old Stockton resident, was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of felonies that included possession of narcotics with a loaded and operable firearm; convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and pepper spray; possession of a loaded firearm; and false personation. She was also arrested on suspicion of two misdemeanors: possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia; and pursuant to the two warrants, according to the police.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the department's 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be emailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voicemail to 650-383-8984.
Editor's note: Palo Alto Online's policy is to withhold the names of those arrested for most crimes until the district attorney has determined there is sufficient evidence to file charges in the case. Read our guidelines.
Comments
Registered user
Downtown North
on Sep 17, 2022 at 8:52 am
Registered user
on Sep 17, 2022 at 8:52 am
Was the driver cited for driving an unregistered vehicle?
Lastly, since the driver was most likely acquainted with the passenger who was arrested, it would seem plausible that she was vaguely or cognizantly aware of the passenger's illegal contents and prior criminal record.
The question remains...was another orchestrated crime at Stanford Shopping Center averted and was the driver an accomplice?
Registered user
Old Palo Alto
on Sep 17, 2022 at 10:16 am
Registered user
on Sep 17, 2022 at 10:16 am
"Palo Alto police have arrested a woman who they say falsely identified herself after officers searched the car she was in and found a handgun, suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and pepper spray on Wednesday afternoon."
Why would anyone be carrying those items if they were just planning to go shopping at Stanford Shopping Center?
The police may have prevented a potential crime and the driver remains questionable as well.
And since the passenger was arrested, why are there no pictures or descriptions of the arrestee?
Registered user
JLS Middle School
on Sep 18, 2022 at 4:49 pm
Registered user
on Sep 18, 2022 at 4:49 pm
"The arrest occurred after officers stopped the woman when she and another woman were driving an unregistered Buick LaSabre in the 400 block of Quarry Road" -- they were both driving? Was one of them sitting with her foot on the gas pedal, with the other one applying the brake? You know, like the old driver's ed cars where the teacher had a brake on their side to stop the car in an emergency? Reading further, I understand the one sitting in the passenger seat is the one who was arrested. If she was offering the information that she was the owner of the car, and it turned out to be untrue, isn't the driver also complicit due to the failure to notify the police that it wasn't true? It doesn't make sense. "Hey let's go to Stanford Mall." "Who's car are we going in?" "Mine." "Can I drive?" "OK but if we get pulled over, let me do all the talking." "What are you going to say, if we get stopped?" "I will say the car is owned by somebody I know who's on parole." "OK well that makes sense. What's all that in your purse?" "A gun, some meth, a crack pipe and some cologne somebody gave me for my birthday." "You sure you don't want to drive?" "No, if I drive I can get arrested for having all this stuff in my purse. Plus I have warrants. It's better if you drive."
A good plan, gone awry.
I think the driver should have been arrested for aiding and abetting. It's like she was rewarded for delivering someone to the police, in a twisted way.
Registered user
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Sep 19, 2022 at 10:40 am
Registered user
on Sep 19, 2022 at 10:40 am
Thank you PAPD for your vigilence! It's obvious your team averted a robbery or theft with potential victims before they happened. No one lying about their identity hangs out at Stanford Shopping Ctr to do some "shopping" with guns and meth in an unregistered vehicle.
Registered user
Crescent Park
on Sep 19, 2022 at 10:52 am
Registered user
on Sep 19, 2022 at 10:52 am
This just sends the message that you can come to Palo Alto with guns, meth, other shady stuff, and not be charged unless they catch you after the crime and not before.