Three from Memphis charged in thefts of catalytic converters
Three Memphis residents have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the theft of catalytic converters in Forrest City.
Forrest City Police arrested Eric Massey,
29, Damien
Porter, 39, and James Johnson, 44, Thursday morning after a concerned citizen called the department saying she heard a saw and observed sparks coming from underneath a van at Superior Vending at 1004 E. Broadway.
According to the report on file at the FCPD, officers were called to Jordan’s convenience store on East Broadway where a person identified the three subjects, who had parked their 2006 Chevrolet Silverado at a gas pump.
While officers were speaking with the men, one officer went to Superior Vending where he got underneath three vans and found three catalytic converters that were “75% cut all the way through.”
After arresting the three, officers began searching their vehicle where they discovered a Sawzall that was “still hot to the touch,” along with other saws, saw blades, twoway radios, masks and gloves. They also found crack cocaine, a pipe and needles. Under a tool box in the bed of the truck, officers reportedly found a catalytic converter.
The three are charged with felonies for theft of property, criminal mischief and possession of a controlled substance. They face misdemeanor charges of possession of an instrument of
(Continued from Page 1) crime and criminal trespassing.
“First and foremost, we want to thank the individual in our community who came forward and alerted us to this crime,” said FCPD Chief Deon Lee.
“Catalytic converter theft has plagued our region this past year,” continued Lee. “We have lobbied the Arkansas State Government, successfully, to pass legislation to make it harder to resell these converters. Through the new legislation, junk yards and other individuals can only take converters that have a VIN or other identification number that allows officers to trace these items back to a vehicle for investigative purposes. We now need other states to follow suit.
“I would also like to say thank you to the patrol officers who hastily arrived on the scene and were able to immediately ascertain enough information to make a probably cause arrest on these three individuals,” said Lee. “Their hard work does not go unnoticed, and I commend them for a job well done.”