Press release: Three charged in stolen vehicle case

(From Portales Police Department)

According Chief Doug Jones, Portales Police Department, three individuals were arrested (Wednesday) afternoon after police officers determined that the vehicle they were observed driving had been reported stolen last month in Clovis.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Wednesday, an off duty police officer observed the 2001 Pontiac Grand Am bearing a Texas license plate and remembered a stolen report. He continued following the vehicle while telephonically contacting on duty officers. A Portales Communications operator reaffirmed through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) that the vehicle was stolen.

The vehicle was stopped by uniformed officers in the 1000 block of West 2nd Street.

Brandi Medina, the driver, age 32 of West Ivy Street, Portales, Manuel Ortega, age 48 of Maple Street, Portales and Orlando Cleto, age 36 of Tucson, Arizona have been charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle.

Medina has also been charged with concealment of identification and suspended driver's license. Ortega was wanted on a beach warrant for failure to appear.

All three remain in the Roosevelt County Detention Center awaiting court appearances.

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