City of Santa Rosa, CA, CivicReady Public Safety Alerts & Notifications
SRPD News Release: Proactive Patrol in a Local Park Leads to Arrest of Santa Rosa Man for Attempting to Remove a Catalytic Converter from Stolen Vehicle
3/30/2024 - 1:55 PM
Proactive Patrol in a Local Park Leads to Arrest of Santa Rosa Man for Attempting to Remove a Catalytic Converter from Stolen Vehicle
On March 30, 2024, at approximately 10:35 AM, a Santa Rosa Police Department officer was proactively patrolling the parking lot of Nagasawa Park located at 1313 Fountaingrove Parkway. The Officer observed two males near a parked white Chevrolet truck. One of the males was underneath the vehicle using a power tool. When the officer contacted the males, he noticed that one of them was holding a Sawzall tool and using it to cut off the truck's catalytic converter. Both males were detained while the officer continued to investigate the incident.The individual who was under the truck was identified as Michael McGarvey, a 33-year-old Santa Rosa resident.
Neither of the two males detained was the registered owner of the truck. Officers were able to quickly contact the registered owner who confirmed he didn’t know his vehicle had been stolen and that he didn’t know either of the detained men.
Based on the investigation, McGarvey was arrested for felony Possession of a Stolen Vehicle and felony Tampering with a Vehicle. McGarvey was later transported and booked into the Sonoma County Jail. The second male subject was interviewed and later released.
Crime reduction is one of Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan’s key priorities. Chief Cregan encourages officers to take a proactive approach to address crime in the areas they are patrolling. After a vehicle’s catalytic converter has been cut from a vehicle, it can cost the registered owner upwards of $3,000 to replace (parts and labor). Since 2020, more than 800 Santa Rosa residents have been the victim of catalytic converter thefts. Chief Cregan’s proactive policing model has contributed to the reduction in catalytic converter thefts over the past three years.
Media inquiries can be directed to Sergeant Rick Boehm at rboehm@srcity.org
