Couple allegedly sells car with bogus title, later steals vehicle from buyer’s home
A Vallejo man and woman were arrested this past weekend after allegedly swindling an 18-year-old woman into buying a car with a bogus title on Saturday — and then stealing the vehicle from her Palm Springs home later that night, police said.
The victim contacted the pair — identified by police as Jose Madrigal, 30, and Kayla Pouncy, 18 — after seeing a Craigslist advertisement for a 2009 Honda Civic, according to Burbank Police Lt. John Dilbert.
After meeting the couple in Burbank, the victim reportedly paid $10,600 in cash for the vehicle and drove it to her home in Palm Springs.
The next morning, the car was gone, police said.
The vehicle’s title was fake and lacked a watermark, according to police.
On Sunday, Burbank police found the Craigslist advertisement and contacted Madrigal and Pouncy while pretending to be interested in buying the car, Dilbert said.
Officers arranged a meeting that afternoon near McCambridge Park, where they arrested Pouncy on suspicion of grand theft, Dilbert said.
Meanwhile, Madrigal allegedly attempted to drive off in a separate car. While he was trying to leave, Madrigal allegedly brushed the vehicle against a police officer who was attempting to open the car door in an effort to stop him from fleeing, police said.
Madrigal traveled roughly a block before his car broke down, after which he tried to flee on foot, Dilibert said.
After a brief foot pursuit, Madrigal was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon and evading police. He is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail.
Pouncy is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.
Anyone else who may have been a victim in dealings with Madrigal or Pouncy is urged to call Burbank police at (818) 238-3000.
-- Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com