Call of Woman 'Passed Out' in Murrieta Ends in Arrests of 2 With 'Extensive Criminal Histories'

MURRIETA, CA - A probationer and his girlfriend were behind bars Tuesday for allegedly stealing a vehicle in San Diego County and taking it to Murrieta, where they were arrested.

Tarrin Joseph Rippel, 30, of Mission Viejo, and Lauren Taylor James, 28, of Lake Forest, were taken into custody Monday following an investigation by Murrieta police.

Rippel was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, carjacking, presenting false identification to law enforcement and probation violations. He's being held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta. James was arrested on suspicion of receiving stolen property, being in possession of illegal drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. She's being held in lieu of $15,000 bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

According to Murrieta police Lt. Tony Conrad, patrol officers encountered the pair shortly after 4 p.m. in the 27800 block of Clinton Keith Road, just off Interstate 215.

Customers at the nearby Starbucks noticed James slumped behind the wheel of a car and became concerned that she might need medical assistance, Conrad said. He said that after officers rolled up, they determined James was sleeping and ran a check on the vehicle's license plate, which revealed the sedan had been stolen out of Vista on July 28.

James was roused and arrested without incident. Officers located Rippel inside the coffee shop, where he was detained and ultimately taken into custody after questioning, according to Conrad.

Rippel was found to have several felony warrants for his arrest and an "extensive criminal history for narcotics, burglary and possession of stolen property," the lieutenant said.

James had a misdemeanor warrant for her arrest, as well, according to Conrad.

— By City News Service.