AZ City Man Parades Stolen Sorrento Trailer Through Maricopa Streets, Faces Consequences

License plate reading cameras were instrumental in apprehending a man from Arizona City, suspected of stealing a trailer from a Sorrento driveway two weeks ago. The incident came to the Maricopa Police Department’s attention shortly after 7 p.m. on February 8, when the theft was reported from a residence on Nocera Road.

Fortunately for investigators, Flock Safety cameras positioned around Maricopa captured images of the suspect vehicle before and after the theft occurred. At 4:46 p.m., the cameras recorded a Chevy S10 with temporary tags traveling along Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway. The same vehicle was seen towing the trailer on Honeycutt Road at 5:42 p.m.

Images taken by the cameras depicted a light-skinned male with a buzz cut and greying black hair driving the truck alone. By comparing these photos to Department of Motor Vehicles records, police identified the driver as 49-year-old Pedro Cortez Gonzalez.

Authorities arrested Gonzalez in Eloy on Wednesday. During questioning, he reportedly claimed to recall picking up the trailer in Maricopa and stated that someone had come to his residence to retrieve it. Officers also noted finding what appeared to be drugs in his wallet, though no further details were disclosed.

Gonzalez now faces serious charges, including felony auto theft, theft over $2,000, burglary, trafficking stolen property, and possession of dangerous drugs and paraphernalia. Additionally, he had a pre-adjudication warrant issued against him from Eloy. The total potential prison sentence could exceed 64 years.

License plate reading cameras have also contributed to several other recent arrests in the area.