FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9/6/2025 TACO ‘BOUT A BAD IDEA Stolen Car...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 9/6/2025

TACO ‘BOUT A BAD IDEA Stolen Car and Credit Card Spree Ends at Taco Shop

DATE OF EVENT: September 3, 2025 TYPE OF EVENT: Ridgecrest Police Recover a Stolen Vehicle LOCATION: N. Norma St., Ridgecrest, CA 93555 CVC 10851(A) - Take vehicle w/o owners consent/vehicle theft PC 470(B) - Forge/etc/handwriting/etc 530.5(A) - Get credit/etc others' ID - Impersonation PC 496(A) - Receive/etc known stolen property PC 484G - Theft by use of access card information H&S 11395(B)(1) - Possess controlled substance w/2 or more priors H&S 11364(A) - Possess unlawful paraphernalia H&S 11377(A) - Possess controlled substance PC 484(A) - Theft of personal property - From a motor vehicle

SUSPECT(S): 42-year-old Sommer Daffy, Johannesburg, CA 48-year-old Jason Schofield, Inyokern, CA

RIDGECREST, CA – Ridgecrest Police Department (RPD) officers were alerted to a vehicle stolen from a woman traveling along Highway 395 outside city limits. The victim had pulled over briefly and stepped away to stretch her legs, only to return and find her car gone.

With help from the FLOCK Safety license plate recognition system, officers quickly tracked the vehicle into Ridgecrest. A short time later, it was located at a fast-food restaurant on Norma St. Inside were suspects Daffy and Schofield, apparently pausing from their crime spree for a quick bite of food.

The investigation showed the pair had already used the victim’s credit card for multiple purchases around town. Officers also found drugs and paraphernalia in their possession. Both were arrested and booked into the Lerdo Correctional Facility—reminding us once again that crime doesn’t pay, though in this case it did come with a side of fries. The stolen car was safely returned to its owner.

“The Ridgecrest Police Department is thankful for the community’s ongoing support, which provides officers with critical tools like the Flock system to help locate suspects,” said Chief Ysit. “We’ll continue to stay proactive—whether suspects are hiding out, shopping with stolen cards, or just making poor life choices in drive-thrus.”

Mario Ysit, CHIEF OF POLICE Prepared by: Sergeant Nathan Lloyd