| By Rachel Brandes Moapa Valley Progress Submitted July 23, 2008
Metro Officers responded to Hidden Valley Road in Moapa on Thursday, July 17, regarding a vehicle that had been found stripped. Upon arrival Officers found a 2007 Dodge truck that was previously reported stolen. Further investigation into the matter led officers to find a second stolen vehicle; a 2004 Chevy Avalanche which was located approximately a half mile from the first vehicle. Investigation led officers to a chop shop which was located at a Moapa residence. |
 This 2007 Dodge Ram was one of the stolen vehicles stripped at a Chop Shop located last week by police in Moapa. |
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| Upon arrival to the residence officers found the suspect working on a third stolen vehicle which was later found to have been a VIN switch. Parts from the Dodge were spotted in the driveway of the residence as well.
Metro along with VIPER Detail out of Las Vegas obtained a search warrant which led them to find multiple stolen auto parts on the property. Additional parts belonging to the Dodge and Chevy were also located on the property. Officers also recovered a flat bed car hauler that had previously been reported stolen. All vehicles located had been reported stolen out of the Las Vegas area. Metro believes this chop shop has been in operation for some time. There have been four vehicles dumped in the Moapa area recently which Metro believes are related to this shop. The suspect in this case is Fernando Cruz Mercado. Mercado was arrested and transported to the Clark County Detention Center where he was booked on the following charges: Possession of Stolen Property, 3 counts of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Operating a Chop Shop, and Alteration of a VIN Number. Mercado is scheduled to appear before Judge Ruth Kolhoss in the Moapa Justice Court at a later date. |
