Crescenta Valley Teen Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Part Of Paul Walker's Wrecked Car

By City News Service

An 18-year-old man was arrested at his home in Tujunga Thursday for allegedly stealing a red T-top roof panel from the Porsche in which actor Paul Walker and his friend died in a fiery crash.

Jameson Witty is suspected of taking the roof panel as the charred hulk of the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT in which Walker and Roger Rodas died was being towed from the crash scene to an impound yard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. He was arrested around 11:30 a.m.

The crash, during which Rodas was driving, occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Valencia, authorities said.

Around 10 p.m., when the on-scene investigation was completed, the wrecked sports car was loaded onto a flatbed tow truck and taken from the scene, according to the sheriff's department.

As the truck headed east on Newhall Ranch Road, it was followed by several vehicles, officials said.

The tow truck driver said he was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Newhall Ranch Road and McBean Parkway when a male exited one of the following vehicles and grabbed a part of the Porsche off the truck's bed before driving off.

The truck driver reported the theft to the sheriff's Santa Clarita Station and detectives assigned to the case identified a suspect, obtained a search warrant and arrested Witty as he was leaving his residence.

The stolen panel was later recovered by detectives who served a search warrant at a home in Canyon Country.

A second suspect, a 25-year-old man who was outside the state, has been identified and was making arrangements to turn himself in, authorities said.

Witty was booked at the Santa Clarita Station and detectives will present the case to prosecutors for the possible filing of grand theft and tampering with evidence charges, officials said.

His bail was set at $20,000 and he is due in court in San Fernando on Monday, according to the sheriff's department.