Chop shop stakeout ends in two arrests in Montclair
Montclair police arrested two men, found three stolen vehicles and uncovered a chop shop operation Sunday evening on the south end of town.
Officers are trying to determine if other vehicles found abandoned and stripped in the area are also tied to the shop.
"At this point we only have the three vehicles connected to them," said Montclair police Sgt. Robert Avels.
The case began as a call about a stolen vehicle being stripped in an apartment complex garage in the 10300 block of Kimberly Avenue at 6:48 p.m. Three men dismantling the vehicle had left by the time police arrived, but officers stayed at the location in case they returned.
Officers are trying to determine if other vehicles found abandoned and stripped in the area are also tied to the shop.
"At this point we only have the three vehicles connected to them," said Montclair police Sgt. Robert Avels.
The case began as a call about a stolen vehicle being stripped in an apartment complex garage in the 10300 block of Kimberly Avenue at 6:48 p.m. Three men dismantling the vehicle had left by the time police arrived, but officers stayed at the location in case they returned.
Police later discovered that one of the men left to steal another
vehicle a block away in the 10300 block of Ramona Avenue. The man,
Andrew Martinez, 18, of Montclair, then robbed someone at gunpoint,
parked at a nearby Olive Garden and walked into the restroom.
Officers surrounded the restaurant, evacuated the bathroom and arrested Martinez, who had dumped the gun and drug paraphernalia in the trash can, Avels said.
Police identified Jose Menjivar, 18, of Montclair as another suspect in the chop shop operation. Police booked Menjivar and Martinez into West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of operating a chop shop and possession of stolen property. Police were searching for a third man in the operation.
Officers were still on the stakeout when they received yet another call about a stolen vehicle abandoned in the 4700 block of San Jose Street, Avels said. The vehicle had been stolen from Upland on Saturday.
melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com
Officers surrounded the restaurant, evacuated the bathroom and arrested Martinez, who had dumped the gun and drug paraphernalia in the trash can, Avels said.
Police identified Jose Menjivar, 18, of Montclair as another suspect in the chop shop operation. Police booked Menjivar and Martinez into West Valley Detention Center on suspicion of operating a chop shop and possession of stolen property. Police were searching for a third man in the operation.
Officers were still on the stakeout when they received yet another call about a stolen vehicle abandoned in the 4700 block of San Jose Street, Avels said. The vehicle had been stolen from Upland on Saturday.
melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com
It is stated that the San Jose address is right around the corner from the chop shop which is descrbed as being located in the south end of town, on Ramona. San Jose Street is in the north end of town.