Two arrested in burglaries near Twain Harte

SONORA -- Tuolumne County sheriff's deputies recently arrested two men they believe were involved in a string of burglaries.

According to authorities, deputy Rod Hobbs was patrolling around Crystal Falls east of Sonora on Oct. 12 when he noticed a vehicle idling in a driveway at Crystal Lake and Wasatch drives.

While Hobbs ran the license plate, the car began to move down Crystal Lake. Hobbs followed and learned from dispatchers that the vehicle had been reported stolen.

The driver pulled into a driveway, where a passenger in the car tried to get out. Hobbs pulled his gun and ordered both occupants to stay in the car.

When backup arrived, deputies removed the two men, later identified as Ryan Wardwell, 23, of Twain Harte and Edward Cooper, 23, of Mi-Wuk Village.

According to authorities, a search of the car found lock picks and other burglary tools, as well as jewelry.

Deputies arrested Wardwell and Cooper and booked them at the Tuolumne County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen car and burglary tools.