Gordon busts chop shop, drug ring

A tip about a stolen vehicle leads to multiple arrests and recovery of stolen items.

CALHOUN — Two men were arrested after the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office found a number of stolen vehicles, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana packages for sale at a Plainville location.

According to Gordon County Sheriff Mitch Ralston:

Deputies responded to a tip on Dec. 11 of a possible stolen vehicle and discovered an automobile reported stolen from another jurisdiction.

William Edward Cox, 45, of 3897 Highway 225, Chatsworth, and Randall Dale Chastain, 37, of 520 South Plainville Road, Plainville, were arrested at the scene without incident.

They found a number of stolen all-terrain-vehicles, stripped automobile, motorcycle and ATV parts as well as VIN plate stamps, a blank key fabrication device and a number of items from which serial numbers had been altered or removed — all elements and evidence of a chop shop operation.

The detectives also discovered and seized numerous other items of stolen property: a firearm, collectible model cars, a safe and power tools.

Most of this property is believed to have been taken in thefts and burglaries in neighboring jurisdictions. They also found large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana packaged for resale.

Charges have been and are being filed against the defendants for: trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking in cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, receiving stolen property and operation of a chop shop.