4 Merced Residents Arrested, Accused Of Mtn. View Theft: Police

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA — Four Merced residents were arrested early Sunday morning on suspicion of attempted theft of a catalytic converter, the Mountain View Police Department reported.

The suspects apprehended resulted in the subsequent recovery of a stolen handgun, drugs and counterfeit currency.

Officers responded to the 800 block of Wake Forest Drive for reports of a neighbor chasing someone away from their home. The caller told dispatchers that the suspect vehicle, a Toyota Camry, had sped away from the area but was spotted a short distance away on Emily Drive, according to a police report.

The driver of the car, Na Xiong, 21, of Merced, was detained and subsequently identified by witnesses as the same man who had been chased away from the home on Wake Forest Drive, police said.

During a search of the suspect vehicle, a handgun that had been reported stolen out of the Central Valley was found, along with several burglary tools. In the vehicle, officers found a catalytic converter that was later identified as having been stolen from a car at the targeted home on Wake Forest Drive.

Na Xiong was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon within a vehicle, knowingly carrying a loaded firearm that was stolen, receiving stolen property, forgery and counterfeiting, and attempted grand theft.

A second officer assisting with the investigation that morning noticed that the suspect vehicle was one that had been associated to suspicious activity reported at the Ramada Inn on Fairchild Drive. Officers arrived there and discovered methamphetamine with pipes, counterfeit currency, tools to make counterfeit money, phones and burglary tools, police added.

The three Merced residents inside the hotel room identified as Touta Xiong, 26, An Lee and Bill Chang, both 35, were taken into custody. Xiong was arrested on suspicion of forgery and counterfeiting, attempted grand theft as well as possession of burglary tools, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Lee and Chang face charges of suspicion of forgery and counterfeiting as well as possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

The group was transported to the Santa Clara County Jail.

Details on the case are available for the public to read more about.