Yucaipa Deputies Shut Down Suspected 'Chop Shop'

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies arrested one man and shut down a suspected chop shop they discovered while responding to a call of a suspicious person wandering around a neighborhood.

Deputies found the shop on Tuesday. They were called about 11 a.m. to the 32000 block of Kentucky Street on a report of a suspicious person walking along the street and looking into homes, according to a sheriff’s news release.

The officials were checking the last place the suspicious person was seen when they say they found a large yard with several vehicles in various states of disassembly.

Deputies checked one vehicle - what appeared to be a late model full-size truck – and learned it had been reported stolen out of Rancho Cucamonga, according to the news release. Additional parts of the truck were discovered inside the residence, officials said.

A trailer found in the yard had been reported stolen out of Loma Linda, according to the release.

The Sheriff’s Specialized Auto Theft Task Force served a search warrant and gathered more evidence along with methamphetamine. As they searched the home, Michael Liranzo arrived at the home in a truck similar to the one being dismantled in the yard, according to officials. A search of his vehicle turned turned up an illegal walrus tusk, officials said.

Liranzo, is suspected of possession of stolen property and could face narcotics related charges. The Walrus tusk prompted deputies to contact US Federal Game agents who have reportedly launched a federal investigation.