LAKE ISABELLA, Calif. -- Sheriff's deputies who were on the hunt for three suspected drug dealers in the Kern River Valley area Monday morning ended up searching for their patrol unit instead.

Sheriff's said they found an abandoned vehicle involved with the investigation near Barlow Road and parked their marked unit behind it.

When they came back from searching for the suspects they found their patrol unit gone.

Sheriff's said it was tampered with and then submerged into Lake Isabella.

One of the men admitted to hiding in the suspect vehicle, but denied being involved with the disappearance of the patrol car.

The other two suspected drug dealers, Jason Chambers and Billy Ray Ross, were arrested on charges of grand theft auto among other charges.