EAST CHICAGO | A Chicago man suspected of chopping up stolen vehicles and shipping the parts to Mexico was arrested Wednesday night, police said.
A joint state and city police investigation of Indiana Export Used Truck Parts at 724 E. Chicago Ave. found that some vehicles at the site had been reported as stolen, according to detectives.
Officers visiting the scrap yard Wednesday night were told conflicting stories by the firm's owner and his son regarding the location of a 1997 Mac tractor truck which had been reported stolen in Stickney, Ill., police said.
The owner claimed the truck was already on its way to Mexico, according to police reports, while his son said a man had bought the truck to send to Africa.
A 2002 Bierzen dump trailer which had been attached to the truck and also reported stolen in Illinois was found at the scrap yard Wednesday night, police said.
Gonzalo Chavez, 48, remained in custody Thursday on probable cause charges of receiving stolen auto parts as detectives continued their investigation. -- BY STEVE ZABROSKI, TIMES CORRESPONDENT
