The Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force discovered a chop shop and a marijuana grow after arresting two men in a stolen vehicle.
StanCATT agents stopped 30-year old Claudio Barron and 23-year old Ricky Colmenero on Golden State Boulevard south of Keyes Road in Turlock on Oct. 3 in what turned out to be a stolen vehicle.
After the arrest, a search warrant was served at Colmenero’s residence, where officers found several stolen vehicles in the process of being dismantled.
Also found at the home were 100 marijuana plants and a large caliber rifle with a high capacity magazine.
The two men were arrested on suspicion of auto theft. Colmenero also was charged with possession of stolen property and marijuana cultivation, illegal possession of a firearm, and .
The investigation into the chop shop is ongoing and its location was not disclosed.