Two men arrested as police recover nine catalytic converters in Merced
Two men were arrested Thursday morning on suspicion of stealing catalytic converters from vehicles on Wardrobe Avenue in Merced, according to police.
Police responded to a call of two suspects in the AT&T yard located at 1860 Wardrobe Avenue at 2:05 a.m. Both Dennis Toney, 38, and Sean Pelton, 48, were seen on surveillance video cutting catalytic converters from vehicles the yard, police said. Officers surrounded the yard and saw the suspects run toward Merced Scholars Charter School next door.
Officers caught up to Toney and Pelton hiding in bushes on the schoolyard. The two suspects told police they were sleeping.
Police said they recovered nine catalytic converters from vehicles in the AT&T yard. Pelton is know to AT&T employees because he has stolen catalytic converters from several AT&T locations in multiple cities, according to police.
Due to $0 bail, both suspects were cited and released.
Merced police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Chavez at 209-388-7713 or by email at chaveze@cityofmerced.org.
