Lewis Roosevelt, age 74 of Shehy Street was recently arrested and is facing 14 counts for receiving stolen properties particularly cars and various car parts. According to Detective Sgt. Anthony Longmire, head of the auto theft division, "He has no record, other than traffic." This fact is agreed in by Dana C. Guarnieri, the Assistant Prosecutor.
And last Thursday in a municipal court, Mr. Roosevelt bond was set at $50,000. He will be back on June 20,207 for a preliminary hearing.
Longmire said that the vacant business at 2007 Market St., the former Ziebart building was converted as a chop shop operated by the 74 year old Mr. Roosevelt. It is in this vacant building wherein stolen vehicles were stored including auto parts that were cannibalized from other stolen cars such as hoods, doors, and license plates.
How was the chop shop discovered?
Detective Sgt. Longmire said, "We got involved after a fire. The fire was 'helpful." It can be remembered that last May 6 an accidental fire occurred in the former Ziebart building turned chop shop. Although the fire didn't damage the inside of the building it however helped in exposing the illegal activity going on in there, explained fire Capt. Alvin Ware.
Detective Sgt. Longmire also said that the vehicles and parts found inside the building were traced to thefts from all the surrounding communities. He said that it's through the auto parts identification numbers that they were able to conclude that the stolen parts were not only from one place but also from neighboring communities. Detective Sgt. Longmire further explains, "If you know where to look" in fact that can be used to trace ownership.
Detective Longmire said that Mr. Roosevelt has been renting the building for almost ten years now. But for how long the building has been used as a chop shop is not known but the good detective thinks that the illegal operation has been going for years possibly because of the accumulated cannibalized auto parts found there.
Chop shops will not flourish if there was no market for it...
According to Detective Longmire the 14 charges that Mr. Roosevelt is currently facing may still increase as the investigation progresses. Detective Sgt. Longmire explains, "Chop shops are a problem for society. We make every effort to locate them. I took over the auto theft division in September and this is my first chop shop - I want more, I want them all."
He also said that there is a big market for stolen car parts but he refused to elaborate on the subject. He also refused to divulge information on who has been buying them for the Market Street shop. He simply said, "It's still an active case."
According to police findings the vehicles found inside the Market Street building were comprised of a 1991 Ford Expedition; 2004 Dodge Ram pickup; 1999 Chevrolet Silverado; 1999 Jeep Cherokee; and a 991 Cadillac.
There were also cannibalized auto parts like doors---from a 1994 Buick; 1998 Buick; 1987 Chevrolet Caprice; 1998Dodege Durango; and 2001 Oldsmobile; hood---from a 1992 Buick; plus three license plates. So far these are just some of the parts recovered. No other reports about other parts such as and others were mentioned. But detective Longmire assures that more evidences will surface as they continue with their investigation.
The 14 warrants for Mr. Roosevelt were issued last Tuesday and he was arrested at his own residence the following day by members of the US Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force.
