Sonoma police news: Auto parts pair caught skimming and more

O’Reilly employees arrested Dec. 18, more cops news to end of the year|

Two employees of O'Reilly Auto Parts on West Napa Street were arrested Dec. 28, on charges of embezzlement and conspiracy after some money went missing. The pair were reportedly falsifying returns to the tune of $2,900.

Eduardo Parra, 21, of Sonoma, and Mitchell Marquez, 20, of Sonoma, were both charged with felony embezzlement and felony conspiracy to commit a crime. They were booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

In other events reported recently to Valley law enforcement:

Wednesday, Dec. 27:

5:27 p.m. – Deputies were called to the Verano Avenue bridge to assist the fire department when a pair of the Valley's 'frequent fliers,' citizens who have had multiple contacts with the police, were camping under the bridge and had lighted a fire. A 41-year-old male was sitting in a chair next to the fire, and claimed he didn't know they couldn't have a fire. Both the male and a 33-year-old female were on probation and living in a garbage-strewn camp. The male was cited for possession of paraphernalia, pollution near state waters and camping, while the female was cited for a probation violation, pollute near state waters and camping.

Thursday, Dec. 28:

9:16 a.m. – A resident in the 1300 block of Herbazal Street reported that she was missing some jewelry that had been on top of her dresser as late as Dec. 18, but was gone on Christmas Eve. Missing was a gold diamond ring, a gold bracelet and gold necklace valued at $10,000. The resident reported that an exterminator had recently been in the house.

7:11 p.m. – While on a traffic stop in the 18000 block of Sonoma Highway, two deputies saw four males, ages 13, 15, 16 and 22, standing in back of a business drinking beers. The 13-year-old was cited for possession of marijuana and minor in possession, the 15-year-old was cited for minor in possession, and the 16-year-old wasn't charged. But the 22-year-old was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and furnishing liquor to a minor, and was booked into county jail.

Friday, Dec. 29:

3:53 a.m. – Deputies were sent to the Safeway at 477 W. Napa St. for a report of someone taking a five-finger discount on some food and beer. The deputies located the suspect on Studley Street and in possession of stolen items including food, a $58 bottle of vodka and two cans of Pabst Blue ribbon beer totaling $112. The suspect, Richard Thomasson, 50, of Sonoma, was on both probation and parole so he was arrested on charges of burglary/shoplifting, a probation violation and a felony parole violation. He was transported to jail.

Saturday, Dec. 30:

12:10 a.m. – While on patrol in the area around Verano and Highway 12, a deputy pulled over a truck that had an obstructed license plate. While talking with the driver, the deputy saw a glass pipe with burn marks, and conducted a search. In the search, the deputy found a digital scale, empty plastic bags, two filled syringes and a plastic bag with a white crystal substance weighing 10.42 grams. The deputy cited Steven K. Swanton, 55, of Boyes Hot Springs, for felony possession of a controlled substance for sale, felony transporting a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and an expired registration.

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