2016-03-17 Pritchard

Stolen Car Spray-Painted to Disguise – Two Arrested

Amarillo police charged two people and recovered a stolen car on Wednesday night that was recently spray-painted to conceal its original color.^[1]

Incident

About 9:30 p.m., officers saw a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu parked at a convenience store near Interstate 40 and South Western Street. The car appeared to have recently been spray-painted black, and the license plate was not listed as being registered to any vehicle, a news release issued Wednesday said.

Officers approached the driver and passenger and noticed a sawed-off shotgun in the car. After the two were taken into custody, officers also found a handgun and methamphetamine, police said.

The car, originally white in color, was reported stolen in Amarillo in February. The car has now been returned to its owner.

Arrests and Charges

William Pritchard, 33, the driver, was arrested and charged with:

• Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle
• Felon in possession of a firearm
• Possession of a prohibited weapon
• Possession of a controlled substance
• A parole violation

He was being held at the Potter County Jail.

Leah Garcia, 24, the female passenger, was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Evidence Recovered

During the investigation, officers discovered:

• A sawed-off shotgun in the vehicle
• A handgun
• Methamphetamine

Case Summary

The vehicle had been stolen in Amarillo in February and was spray-painted from its original white color to black in an apparent attempt to disguise it. The vehicle was successfully recovered and returned to its owner.