Appalachian News Express
Two arrested for stealing car parts BY MARY MUSIC STAFF WRITER The rash of copper and catalytic converter thefts from vehicles in Pike and Floyd counties is sending police officials to the junkyard. Two men were arrested for stealing catalytic converters this week a week after the commonwealth s attorney urged police to beef up their efforts to make junk yard dealers follow reporting requirements.
David Parsons, 24, with addresses listed both in Road Creek and Island Creek, and his brother Christopher E. Parsons, 23, of Road Fork in Pikeville, were taken into custody Monday evening after they were suspected of stealing catalytic converters from five vehicles in Pike County. The arrests came as the Pikeville Police Department and the Kentucky State Police are investigating numerous thefts of the converters in Pike and Floyd counties.
In Pikeville, more than 20 catalytic converter thefts were reported last week from automobile owners who parked beside the road, in the Pikeville Medical Center parking lot and in a parking lot near Bob Amos Park in Pikeville. While driving by the Pikeville Medical Equipment parking lot Monday evening, Pikeville Police Department Det. Phillip Reed said he saw a vehicle matching the description of a suspected catalytic converter thief parked next to a medical equipment vehicle.
The Parson brothers were pulled over sometime later in the Pikeville High School parking lot. Several officers found a Dewalt cordless reciprocating saw, several used blades, a crow bar and a car jack in the back seat. The brothers were detained and officers returned to Pikeville Medical Equipment parking lot to see if any vehicles had been damaged. Sgt. Aaron Thompson confirmed that one catalytic converter was cut from a vehicle located there.