On the early morning of March 9th, 2024, Sulphur Springs officers made a significant discovery at the Motel 6 located on 1529 Industrial Dr. E. Observing a vehicle with suspicious features in the parking lot, officers took action.
Upon closer inspection, officers noticed a broken back window covered with blue tape. Further checks revealed a temporary tag with no records found. Additionally, the VIN number was obscured by a business card, prompting officers to investigate further.
Running the VIN number located on the center console, dispatch confirmed that the truck was reported stolen from Los Angeles, CA. Motel staff directed officers to one of rooms, where they encountered a suspect.
After reading the individual, identified as Ernie Guevara-Lopez, his Miranda rights, officers questioned him about the vehicle. Despite claiming to have purchased it in California, Guevara-Lopez failed to provide any supporting documentation. Discrepancies in his account led to his arrest for Theft of Property exceeding $30,000 but less than $150,000.
Following protocol, the vehicle was inventoried, and American Towing took possession of it. Guevara-Lopez was then transported without incident to the Hopkins County jail, where his bond was set at $30,000.
