Police Uncover Trunkful of Stolen Goods During Traffic Stop

Two Sacramento residents were arrested in Albany recently with a trunk full of stolen items after a routine traffic stop on Buchanan and Pierce streets. 

officer Pete O'Connor said he was parked on Buchanan watching for traffic violations on March 28, just before 7 p.m., when he spotted a vehicle making an illegal turn across the bus lane at Buchanan and Pierce. 

He stopped the car and spoke to the driver, then noticed a suspicious-looking bag full of clothing in the back seat. 

O'Connor said a vehicle search revealed many other items in the trunk, including five Kindles, multiple laptops, Nintendo video games, clothing and Grey Goose vodka. A number of items still had security tags on them. There were no receipts for the items in the car. 

Police ultimately found what they said appeared to be about $5,600 in stolen goods, some from San Rafael and others that may have been taken from Sonoma County. 

Police arrested the driver, Aja Lena Maliki Garcia, and her passenger, Michael Anthony King, on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy. 

Officers later determined that King, who they said initially lied about his identity and age, was a parolee. 

Both were taken to the Glenn Dyer Detention Facility in downtown Oakland. 

King remains in custody at Santa Rita Jail, where he is being held without bail for parole violation.

If there's something in this article you think , or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at albany@patch.com.