Indio man in custody for allegedly stealing car from dealership
An Indio man was in custody Friday for allegedly stealing a car from a local dealership, as well as committing multiple vehicle thefts and commercial burglaries throughout Indio and La Quinta.
Gerardo Zarco, 50, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia, and a probation violation, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Ben Ramirez. He was being held at the Riverside County jail in Indio in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Sheriff’s deputies said they spotted a Chevrolet Malibu reported stolen from a local Chevrolet dealership on March 16 parked near Avenida Montezuma and Calle Sonora in La Quinta.
After surveilling the car for about 20 minutes, Zarco was allegedly seen getting into the Malibu and driving away. Deputies conducted a traffic stop, during which a small amount of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia was found on Zarco, Ramirez said.
The sergeant also said Zarco was identified as the suspect in two Tuesday vehicle thefts in La Quinta, in which credit cards were allegedly stolen in order to commit identity theft and commercial burglaries at “several local businesses in La Quinta and Indio.”
Deputies will conduct additional investigation into the alleged credit card fraud and burglaries, according to Ramirez.
