RIVERSIDE, CA — Two Norco men suspected of operating a "chop shop" were out of custody Friday, two days after they were arrested following a monthslong investigation, and authorities seized dozens of vehicles in various states of disassembly, authorities said.
Kelsey Jones, 29, and Brian Stump, 46, were arrested Wednesday following a three-month investigation by the California Highway Patrol and other agencies.
Jones and Stump were booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside on suspicion of operating a chop shop, auto theft and possession of stolen vehicles. They posted unspecified bonds the same day and were released.
According to the CHP, the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail, which comprises personnel from multiple Inland Empire law enforcement agencies, initiated an investigation in April after recovering a motorcycle reported stolen from Canyon Lake.
Within several months, "RAID investigators identified an organized crime group responsible for multiple vehicle thefts across Southern California," the CHP said.
The investigation led to the 1600 block of Third Street, just west of the 15 Freeway, in Norco, where Jones and Stump were operating their alleged vehicle stripping and stolen parts sales operation, according to the CHP. A search warrant was obtained and served Wednesday morning.
"While serving the warrant, investigators discovered an active chop shop," the CHP said. "By the end of the operation, they had recovered approximately 50 stolen vehicles and components, including motorcycles, passenger vehicles, trailers and utility terrain vehicles, with an estimated value exceeding $1.8 million."
Stump was taken into custody without incident at a residence on Center Street. It was unclear where investigators arrested Jones.
Authorities were unable to confirm how long the alleged chop shop had been in operation.
Background information on the men also was unavailable.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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