A covert operation in the Pinedale area of Memphis brought an illegal chop shop to a grinding halt. Yesterday, after responding to a complaint at the 1900 block of Pinedale Avenue, the MPD Auto Theft Task Force, alongside Code Enforcement, uncovered an establishment engaged in illicit vehicular dismantling and modifications, according to the Memphis Police Department.
The seizure of the chop shop yielded stolen vehicles including a 2018 Dodge Charger and a 2019 Dodge Challenger, in addition a Chevrolet Camaro, modified with a Corvette engine and aftermarket wheels. The MPD indicated that a variety of automobile parts, tools, and equipment like car dollies and a utility trailer were among the items confiscated. The presence of a car hauler also pointed to the expansive nature of the operation.
Authorities have brought charges against two individuals in connection with the operation, identified as Kevin Carter, 36, and Ernest Dandridge, 63. The charges include multiple counts of auto theft in the range of $10,000 to $60,000, alteration of engine or serial numbers, operation or ownership of a prohibited chop shop, and the theft of property under $1,000, specifically targeting a license plate. These allegations highlight an underworld of automobile crime that often goes unnoticed by the layman citizen.
