MERRIMACK – When an officer on patrol in the early morning hours of New Year’s Eve spotted a particular vehicle parked on the side of a local hotel, he decided to run the license plate through a national database to check its status.

The search of the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, according to police, flagged the vehicle as stolen, and after a more thorough inquiry, police determined the owner of the vehicle contacted Lynn, Massachusetts police on Dec. 12 to report it had been stolen.

So officers decided to conduct a stakeout. Eventually, they saw two females exit the hotel, get in the car and begin to drive away, police said.

As the driver exited the parking lot, police said, officers conducted a traffic stop, and upon speaking with the two occupants were able to identify the driver as Stephany Vasquez, and the passenger as Emelin Diaz Gonzalez, both of whom are 19 and live in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Police said a brief investigation determined that Vasquez was allegedly “responsible for the theft” of the car. Officers also discovered Vasquez did not have a valid driver’s license, and that she “did not have authorization to drive, or be in possession of, the vehicle.”

As for Diaz Gonzalez, she was allegedly “aware that the vehicle was stolen, and was present when the theft took place,” according to police.

Vasquez was charged with one count each of receiving stolen property, a Class B felony; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a Class A misdemeanor; operating without a valid license, a Class B misdemeanor; and misuse of plates, a violation.

Diaz Gonzalez was charged with one count of criminal liability for the conduct of another, a Class B felony, police said.

Both were transported to police headquarters for booking, and later released on personal recognizance bail. They are scheduled for arraignment Jan. 16 in Hillsborough County Superior Court-South in Nashua.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256, or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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