A routine traffic stop in San Mateo yesterday turned into a full-blown felony case when officers say they uncovered drugs packaged for sale, stacks of bogus IDs, and binders filled with other people’s personal information.
The San Mateo Police Department identified the suspects as 45-year-old Chad Correia of La Cañada and 45-year-old Megan McMurray of Burbank. Both were booked into the San Mateo County Jail on multiple felony counts, according to police.
Officers pulled the pair over at about 8:47 PM at Chess Drive and Bridgepointe Parkway for a license plate violation and detained the occupants, San Mateo police wrote. During a probable-cause search, officers reported finding methamphetamine, heroin and Xanax in McMurray’s suitcases, allegedly packaged for sale. They also say they discovered fraudulent California commercial driver’s licenses with Correia’s photo, along with notebooks and binders holding personal identifying information that belonged to others, including Social Security numbers, addresses and trust and banking details, according to the San Mateo Police Department.
Duo Arrested for Multiple Felonies Following Traffic Stop https://t.co/WEeDGqwaci pic.twitter.com/bUJECxpPym
— San Mateo Police Department (@SanMateoPD) May 5, 2026
Police said McMurray initially gave officers a fake name and later turned out to have two outstanding felony warrants. Both she and Correia were transported to the San Mateo County Jail and booked on multiple charges.
What Police Say They Recovered
Investigators said much of the evidence was pulled from luggage and suitcases in the vehicle. Follow-up checks in a nearby hotel area turned up even more fraudulent licenses and documents, police said.
The binders reportedly held a mix of names, Social Security numbers, addresses and financial details that could be used to identify potential victims. Investigators said the collection of information could point to identity-theft activity beyond the suspected forgeries, although they have not publicly identified any alleged victims. Detectives are still cataloguing the evidence.
Charges and Possible Penalties
San Mateo police listed the alleged offenses by California code, including Health and Safety Code sections for possession for sale and a recidivist provision, along with Penal Code sections related to identity theft and forgery.
Health and Safety Code sections 11378 and 11351 make possession of certain controlled substances with the intent to sell a felony, according to California Legislative Information. Health and Safety Code section 11395 creates a treatment‑mandated felony for individuals with multiple prior drug convictions, per FindLaw. State law provides that identity theft and forgery allegations can carry felony penalties, depending on the circumstances and any prior convictions.
Police Message to the Community
The San Mateo Police Department said detectives will keep digging into the scope of the alleged identity-theft evidence and urged residents to speak up if they see something suspicious, according to the San Mateo Police Department.
Anyone with information related to the case is asked to call the department’s non-emergency line or submit tips through official reporting channels.
