Pair arrested on auto theft charges

PORTERVILLE

A man and a woman were arrested after that was car reported stolen was found in a local motel parking lot early Saturday morning, the Porterville Police Department reported.

Moriah Mullins, 24, and David Shields, 33, both of Redding, were charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Shields, who was a wanted parolee, was also charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a parole violation.

Mullins was also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and a misdemeanor warrant. Both were housed at the Tulare County Jail following their arrest.

At about 12:20 a.m., a PPD officer saw a 2012 Dodger Challenger that had been reported stolen on Dec. 23 in the parking lot of the Palm Tree Inn on West Morton Avenue. Officers determined the car was associated with a room occupied by Mullins and Shields. Evidence linking both to the stolen car was collected.