2 Suspected ID Thieves Arrested At Santa Cruz Motel

SANTA CRUZ, CA — Two arrests were made after a stolen car, a loaded assault rifle, drugs, weapons, and tools to create fraudulent identifications were discovered at a local motel, Santa Cruz Police reported.

Officers initially responded to the motel on 3rd Street Tuesday morning to investigate a reported stolen convertible BMW. Three people were detained during the investigation and two arrests were made:

Jeffrey Batori, 51, of Oregon was arrested on various charges including unlawful storage of a loaded assault rifle, identity theft, forgery of seals, and possession of a stolen vehicle, high capacity magazines, brass knuckles, a baton, methamphetamine and heroin.

Antonio Salinas, 46, a transient from Santa Cruz, was taken into custody on charges of identity theft, forgery of seals, and methamphetamine and heroin possession, police said.