Two Men Arrested in El Paso for Attempted Catalytic Converter Theft

Two men were arrested late Thursday night after police interrupted an attempted catalytic converter theft in East El Paso.

At approximately 11:29 p.m. on February 6, officers patrolling Alameda Street observed a dark-colored Ford F-150 parked in the middle of the 8300 block of Roseway with only its parking lights on. As officers approached, they saw a man underneath a Ford F-250. The driver of the F-150, later identified as 34-year-old Contreras Eduardo of Socorro, honked the horn to alert the other man.

The suspect under the truck, identified as 37-year-old Humberto Sandoval of East El Paso, fled on foot. A K-9 officer was deployed, and Sandoval was located and arrested after a brief struggle. Eduardo was taken into custody at the scene.

Investigators determined Sandoval was in the process of cutting out the catalytic converter when police arrived. Both men were booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility.

Sandoval faces charges of Criminal Mischief – Vehicle Damage Catalytic Converter ($15,000 bond), Evading Arrest or Detention ($2,500 bond), and Resisting Arrest, Search, or Transport ($2,500 bond), all under Judge Aun. Eduardo was charged with Criminal Mischief – Vehicle Damage Catalytic Converter with a bond set at $10,000.