Texas Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators
IAATI - S. Central Regional Chapter
|
|
TAVTI/SCRC Texas Association of Vehicle Theft Investigators IAATI - S. Central Regional Chapter |
|
Submitted by Bill Smith
After information was received from a confidential informant that a golf cart stolen from Montgomery County was listed on craigslist.org, it was learned that the item was indeed stolen as noted in MCSO incident report #10-A006798. After an undercover call was made to the seller of the golf cart, a meeting was scheduled to view and purchase the item on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. At 1530 hours on that date, HCSO units implemented an operation at the H.E.B. parking lot at 10919 Louetta, Harris County, TX. Operational personnel included two UCs from the Harris Co. Auto Theft Unit (ATU), three surveillance officers from the ATU, and two marked patrol units. After two white male subjects arrived in a white 2004 Dodge pickup, they met with the UCs and displayed for purchase both the stolen red golf cart and an orange 2004 KTM 65 dirt bike. After the UCs inspected both items and haggled over the price, both males were arrested without incident.
After both males (one adult and one juvenile) provided confessions noting their involvement in the theft of the golf cart, they were charged with state jail felony theft ($1,500 - $20,000). The adult was then booked into the Cypresswood jail, while the juvenile was placed in detention at the Harris Co. JPD downtown facility. It should also be noted that small amounts of marijuana and Xanax were located in the glove box of the Dodge. Accordingly, the illegal contraband was collected by patrol and submitted to the Harris Co. MEO. It should also be noted that the pickup, golf cart, and dirt bike were seized and towed to the ATU facility on Fisher Road.
Charged Subjects: (Adult) = Shane Lee Tatum, W/M, 01-03-1992, TX DL 25479545, SPN 02473174, presently on misdemeanor probation for DWI. (Juvenile) = W/M, 16 YOA.
Submitted by Danny Sheppard
On May 17, 2010, Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force Agent John Blackwell developed information regarding the location of at least one stolen boat in Harris County, Texas, and possibly another in Matagorda County. Blackwell contacted Harris County Auto Crimes Task Force and forwarded the information. On May 18, 2010, agents with the Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force and the Harris County Auto Crimes Task Force executed two separate search warrants at two different locations. The agents located a storage building in Harris County and after observing a suspect on location, recovered a stolen Gulf Coast boat entered into TCIC by the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office as stolen. The search also produced the recovery of a stolen vehicle, boat motor and golf cart. Three people detained at the scene and interviewed confirmed information with Harris County investigators regarding the location of additional stolen property at the storage building in Matagorda, Texas.
This information was forwarded to Agent Blackwell who obtained another search warrant for the Matagorda, Texas location. Investigators with the GCACTF and the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office made entry to the building and recovered a 2008 28 ft. MAKO center console boat along with trailer and outboard motors valued at $160,000.00. The MAKO was reported as stolen to the Pearland Police Department in August, 2009, and was once stored at a location in Galveston, Texas but was moved before investigators learned of its location. A kayak and ice chest that had been reported stolen to the Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office were also recovered.
At this time the cases are still under investigation and charges are expected. The main suspect in this case has been linked to several marine theft cases in Galveston County, and those cases are still under investigation and charges are pending. The total recovery value from the search warrants is estimated at $300,000.
Submitted by Danny Sheppard
After Hurricane Ike, the rebuilding process is still in progress. The aftermath of Hurricane Ike brought contractors from across the country finding work. A small handful of the "storm chasers," as they are called, are found with stolen equipment and trailers. This was the case on the Port Bolivar Peninsula in late April 2010.
On 04/20/2010, Galveston County Auto Crimes Task Force Agent Steve Womack was contacted by GCSO Deputy Chris Bryant. Bryant advised that he had a box trailer that he suspected of being stolen. Bryant provided a VIN number for the trailer, but due to discrepancies in the number, it could not be positively identified at that point. Womack did additional research on the VIN and confirmed that it was entered into TCIC/NCIC as stolen by the Sulphur, Louisiana Police Department.
On 04/21/2010, Womack contacted GCSO Deputy Chris McCarvell and requested he return to the location of the trailer in Port Bolivar, Texas. McCarvell located the trailer and it was confirmed stolen by the Sulphur PD. While at this location, McCarvell locates another box trailer with all identifiers removed, a Kubota mini–excavator which was entered as stolen by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office. A Caterpillar skid steer loader was also located at the site and returned as being entered as stolen by the Sulphur, Louisiana Police Department. All property was recovered and stored at a wrecker service pending contact of the owners.
On 04/22/2010, Womack and GCACTF Assistant Commander Hal Barrow traveled to Port Bolivar, Texas and went to the home of the owner of the property where the recoveries were made. The property owner was not there, however Womack and Barrow looked at a goose neck flat bed trailer and it returned as a stolen entry by the Sulphur, Louisiana PD. The agents learned that the goose neck had been reported in the same theft as the skid steer loader listed above. While attempting contact with the property owner, Womack noticed VIN etching on the outside window of a 1999 Wanderer travel trailer. By running the VIN it was confirmed as a stolen entry by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office. All additional property was recovered and stored pending contact of the owners. The investigation is continuing at this time and charges in the case are expected. The total recovery for this case to this point is $63,000.00.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Submitted by Bill Smith
In February 2010, a case was re-assigned to Sgt. S. McCoy of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Auto Theft Unit for review and follow up investigation. Sgt. McCoy was able to determine that on 11-10-2008, while Security Guard Ibrahim Sleiman was working at the Insurance Auto Auction located at 2535 West Mount Houston Road in Harris County, Texas, he observed an unknown black male who was trespassing at the closed business. After the male entered the front driver’s side door of a 2007 Jeep Liberty (Texas Tag CKH-026, VIN 1J4GK48K67W688979), Sleiman fired multiple shots at the male as he fled the location by driving the Jeep through an external security fence. After the abandoned vehicle was recovered thirty minutes later on a public roadway two miles from the auto auction, it was learned that there were multiple bullet holes to the vehicle along with blood deposited in and around the front driver’s seat position.
Evidentiary swabs were collected from the Jeep by Harris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene deputies and processed by personnel from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office. Later, Sgt. McCoy learned a “hit” was made by the Texas Department of Public Safety CODIS Laboratory that matched the DNA on record for Dequentun Trey Mitchell. Sgt. McCoy learned that Mitchell is presently incarcerated at the Buster Cole State Jail in Bonham, Texas, for burglary of a habitation.
Kevork Korkejian, the complainant, who is the manager of the Insurance Auto Auction, advised that the stolen Jeep was valued at $14,785, while the damage to the fence was $800. Sgt. McCoy then presented this case to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and Mitchell was charged with felony theft (State Jail, $1,500 - $20,000).
Charged Subject:
Dequentun Trey Mitchell, 248th D.C., Cause #1257023, Bond $15,000.
