Paso Robles man arrested after search of stolen car finds gun, pilfered mail, police say
A man was arrested early Thursday morning in a Paso Robles credit union parking lot after police allegedly found him with a stolen car, stolen mail and drugs.
Police contacted Benjamin Keeney, 41, just after midnight in the Golden One Credit Union parking lot on Niblick Road, according to a Paso Robles Police Department news release.
Officers discovered Keeney’s white Kia Optima was stolen and took him into custody, police said.
During a search, officers allegedly found a gun with its serial number removed, as well as stolen mail, checks, IDs and computer equipment used to manufacture checks.
One of the checks allegedly had a name scratched out and Keeney’s name written in. Police also found methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, Xanax pills, methadone, fentanyl and drug paraphernalia, according to the release.
The San Luis Obispo County Auto Theft Task Force was investigating the stolen vehicle and responded to provide assistance.
Keeney was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of a firearm by a felon, removing firearm identification and vehicle theft, as well as five misdemeanor drug offenses.
He was not listed in jail custody as of late Friday morning.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Paso Robles Police Department at 805-237-6464 or Crime Stoppers at 805-549-7867.
