Milpitas Traffic Stop Uncovers Stolen Luggage

MILPITAS - Police arrested two men Wednesday morning in Milpitas in connection with the theft a suitcase, which was stolen as a woman was loading her car.

At 9:46 a.m., a police sergeant pulled over an SUV for failing to stop at a stop sign on South Park Victoria and Canton drives, according to police.

As the sergeant was speaking with two men inside the SUV, a woman called police to report that her suitcase had been stolen from her car, as she was loading it on Lassen Avenue, police said.

After hearing the report, the sergeant noticed a suitcase similar to the one stolen inside the stopped SUV, according to police. As the sergeant was trying to verify the suitcase, the passenger inside the SUV ran from the vehicle.

Responding officers chased the suspect and were ultimately able to detain him. A search of the SUV yielded a small quantity of a substance believed to be methamphetamine as well as paraphernalia, police said.

Officers arrested the SUV's driver, identified as Steven Barrera, 24, of San Jose, on suspicion of possessing stolen property, petty theft, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possessing paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license, according to police.

The SUV's passenger, identified as a Cesar Lopez, 36, of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, petty theft, being under the influence of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, providing false identification as well as several arrest warrants, police said.

The pair was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose.

-Bay City News, image via Milpitas Police Department