Pleasanton police bust East Bay crime ring targeting Bay Area

PLEASANTON, Calif. (KGO) -- Three people were arrested for a variety of crimes in Pleasanton early this morning when officers conducted an investigation after spotting a stolen car in a motel parking lot, police said.

A police officer who was checking the parking lot of the Larkspur Landing Hotel at 5535 Johnson Drive in Pleasanton at 12:36 a.m. noticed three men standing outside a vehicle in the lot, according to police.

The officer checked the vehicle's license plate and found out that it had been stolen out of Hayward, police said.

After a short investigation, 25-year-old Jason Brown, of San Jose, was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of the stolen vehicle, according to police.

Officers who searched the stolen vehicle found numerous items, including personal identifying information and stolen mail belonging to dozens of victims throughout the Bay Area, police said.

Brown also had evidence in his pockets indicating his involvement in stealing people's identities, according to police.

Officers then followed up on information that Brown may have been associated with a room inside the hotel.

As officers were walking down the hotel's hallway, they contacted 25-year-old Heather Maiale, of Mountain House, and 29-year-old Chase Alves, of Castro Valley, who were leaving one of the rooms, police said.

Maiale and Alves were both on probation for previous crimes and were subject to being searched, according to police. Both were in possession of narcotics and credit cards that didn't belong to them, police said.

A probation search of the hotel room revealed computers, an embossing machine, narcotics, fake credit cards and stolen property, according to police.

In addition to being arrested on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, Brown was arrested on suspicion of possession of stolen property and possession of the personal information of more than 10 victims.

Maiale was arrested on suspicion of identity theft and possession of narcotics and Alves was arrested on suspicion of possession of narcotics and violating his probation.

Pleasanton police said they will contact the victims in the case as their investigation continues.

Police said anyone who has information about the crimes is asked to call them at (925) 931-5100.