LATHROP - Mathew Gene Ballard, 32, of Manteca, driving a 2009 BMW 328 allegedly stolen from Budget Rental Car in Santa Monica, was arrested at gunpoint Tuesday evening in the 100 block of East Lathrop Road by Sheriff’s deputies.
Sheriff’s spokesman deputy Les Garcia said that after the driver was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m. at the intersection with Harlan Road in Lathrop, he reportedly gave officers a false name, false date of birth and erroneous driver’s license information.
Ballard was allegedly in possession of large amounts of miscellaneous credit cards with different names and driver’s licenses from different states issued to numerous people.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Services was contacted by officers and they responded due to the large amount of identity theft issues, Garcia said.
During the search of the vehicle deputies said they discovered some 6.6 grams of methamphetamine, and a glass pipe used for smoking meth.
Ballard was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, vehicle theft, providing false identification to a peace officer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, embezzlement of a vehicle as well as having an out of state warrant for $10,000 from the State of Utah.
He is being held without bail, according to the Sheriff’s website. Ballard is scheduled to appear in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court today at 1:30 p.m.
Budget Rental Car was contacted and was unable to respond to immediately pick up the vehicle. It was towed and stored for its protection.
Stolen car yields ID theft evidence