by Leah Justice
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office along with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicle License and Theft Bureau broke up a chop shop ring in Green Creek last week.
Tyler Lee Cates, 23, of 710 Johnson Rd., Rutherfordton was arrested and charged with felony permit place used chop shop, felony altering vehicle identification numbers, felony possession of stolen motor vehicle, felony possession with intent to sell/deliver marijuana, felony maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to sheriff reports.
Investigators at the sheriff’s office received information that a vehicle was being dismantled and sold for scrap metal. Investigators arrived at the suspected location and found a vehicle with no doors and a missing roof and obtained a search warrant, according to sheriff reports. State license and theft agents were contacted to assist with the investigation.
After conducting a search warrant, investigators determined there was one vehicle stolen out of Chesnee, S.C. and another vehicle in the process of being dismantled. According to the sheriff’s office investigators also discovered a stolen firearm, marijuana and drug paraphernalia at the residence.
Cates is out of custody under a $21,000 bond with his next court date scheduled for July 9. The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible.