MPD arrests driver with hand-made license plate tags, missing checks

A woman was arrested Nov. 6 on suspicion of theft and fictitious registration.

Dawn Lash, 43, was pulled over by Maricopa police at approximately 6 p.m. on John Wayne Parkway and Desert Cedars Drive for expired vehicle registration. Lash was found to have a warrant for her arrest from the Florence city court for a June traffic violation.

Police observed an additional sticker covering the registration year on the vehicle’s license plate. The sticker had the number “20” printed on it. When questioned by police, Lash allegedly stated she knew her tags were expired, so she made her way to a local store, bought a pack of white stickers and covered the registration year, ‘19, with the stickers for ‘20.

Officers proceeded to search the vehicle, as well as Lash’s purse. An officer allegedly found four blank checks with a man’s name written on them in the purse. After locating a phone number for the man named on the checks, Maricopa police asked if he had let Lash use the checks or if he was aware that she was in possession of them. The man stated he and his wife pay Lash to clean their home and she had just left for the day.

He told officers he never gave Lash permission to take or use his checks.

Lash allegedly told police she remembered taking the checks and putting them in her purse when she was cleaning the home. She went on to say that she had no intention of taking them for the home and forgot to give them back before she left.

The homeowners advised MPD that they wanted to press charges and aid in prosecution.

Police placed Lash under arrest on charges of theft and fictitious registration and was booked in Pinal County Jail.