Out of state man caught sleeping in stolen car in Soquel

A car reported stolen out of Seattle Washington, was found in Santa Cruz County with the alleged car thief sleeping inside.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy was doing extra patrols in the parking lot of Home Depot on 41st Avenue around 3 a.m. Thursday when he found Corey Clarke sleeping inside a 2018 Dodge Challenger.

“The license plate on the vehicle belonged on a different car, so Deputy DeLaTorre used the VIN for a records check,” said the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office discovered the car was reported stolen out of Seattle Washington. Clarke told deputies he lived in Tacoma.

Once deputies placed Clarke into a patrol car they searched the Dodge and found a small amount of meth and heroin along with identity theft materials.

“Blank credit cards, about a dozen fake ID’s, and credit card making equipment were among the items found,” the sheriff’s office said.

Clarke was arrested and booked on various felony charges.