Police Bust Gwinnett County Chop Shop

Gwinnett Police busted a chop shop Monday afternoon after investigators arrested a suspect and found multiple auto body parts at a local garage.

According to a news release, police arrested Charles Ewell Wright, 40, and charged him with several offenses, including operating a chop shop, altering vehicle identification numbers, theft by receiving and drug possession and intent to distribute. Wright is a Lawrenceville resident, according to jail records.

Police said as investigators with the Motor Vehicle Theft Unit passed a home in the 300 block of Shannon Way in Lawrenceville around 1 p.m. Monday, they saw a truck backed up to an open garage door of a detached garage. Next to the garage were stacked auto parts, “which the investigators found to be unusual,” police said in the news release.

Officers met with Wright, who allowed them to look at the auto parts.

“They immediately noticed that a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe had been cut up using a Sawzall style tool. They could see the VINs had been scratched off multiple pieces,” police said in the news release. “After finding a true VIN for the Tahoe, the investigators discovered that the vehicle had been previously reported stolen in Walton County.”

Additional warrants may be coming, police said.

(Photos: Gwinnett Police PIO shots; Charles Ewell Wright mug shot)