DATE/TIME: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at approximately 7:15 a.m.
INCIDENT: VC 10851(a) - Vehicle Theft
LOCATION: 900 Block of Front Street, Needles, CA
SUSPECT(S): Tarrife Chaplin, 38-years-old, Resident of Los Angeles
VICTIM(S): City of Needles
SUMMARY: On Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at approximately 7:15 a.m., deputies from the Coloroado River Station responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 900 block of Front Street in Needles. The vehicle was confirmed to belong to the City of Needles and was equipped with a GPS locator. Deputies quickly coordinated with the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) after determining the vehicle was traveling eastbound towards Kingman, AZ.
DPS officers were able to locate the vehicle on the I40 near Exit 55, where they conducted a felony traffic stop without incident. The driver, identified as Tarrife Chaplin, a resident of Los Angeles, was taken into custody. Chaplin was arrested on charges of Vehicle Theft and was transported to the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, Arizona. The case remains under investigation and will be submitted to the District Attorney's Office for review of criminal felony charges of PC 10851(a) - Vehicle Theft.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy J. Dean of the the Colorado River Station/Needles Police Department at (760) 326-9200. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline or text "REPORT" to (844) 909-3006. Individuals may also leave information online using the We-Tip website link: https://mobile.catapultems.com/sbcsd/Sites.
For press releases, news and information, follow the Colorado River Station on Facebook and/or Instagram at:@SBCSDColoradoRiverStation or X at: @CORiverStation.
Refer: Deputy J. Dean
Station: Colorado River Station/Needles Police
Phone No. (760) 326-9200
Case No. 212600270
SHANNON D. DICUS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
