Crime & Safety
Identity Thief Busted After Being Caught With Fake License Plates
The following information was provided by the Westlake Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.
Fake license plates were just the beginning of the misdeeds uncovered following a traffic stop by Westlake Police on New Year's Eve.
Daniel Rivera, 36, of Elyria, was pulled over around 3:34 p.m. He was driving a 1996 Pontiac with his girlfriend's license plates, from a 1995 Volvo, on it.
Police then discovered that his driver's license was suspended and that he had an active warrant from Perkins Township police.
Find out what's happening in Westlakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But wait ... there's more!
Police found another Elyria man's credit card in Rivera's pocket. After a few attempts to explain it -- including "finding" the card at his home, and then sayig that it was his brother's (but couldn't remember his so-called brother's name) -- Rivera admitted he had stolen the other man's identity from where he worked.
Find out what's happening in Westlakewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police say Rivera opened an account, bought stuff, and had the bills sent to a relative's house.
In addition to the fictitious plates charge, Rivera is being charged with forgery, misuse of a credit card, identity theft and tampering with records.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.