The owner of a Clinton automotive business has been arrested for allegedly operating a chop shop, Clinton Police officials said. Stolen cars and drugs were found at two different locations he operates.
Authorities in Sampson and Harnett counties converged on two businesses owned by Patrick Henry Oakes on Tuesday following a months-long probe that involved the Clinton Police Department, N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE).
In Clinton, police executed a search warrant at Pat Oakes Service and Repair, located at 1304 Beaman St., at the Northeast Boulevard intersection. The owner, Oakes, 35, of 201 Riverdell Drive, Fayetteville, was taken into custody, as was another employee at the location.
“We know that Oakes and his wife have businesses in Sampson County, Harnett County and Cumberland County,” said Clinton Police Chief Donald Edwards. “Search warrants were served in Clinton and at the Harnett County location on (Tuesday).”
Stolen vehicles were recovered at both locations. The investigation, which is ongoing with other charges expected, was launched at the end of last year.
“Back in December, we received a citizen complaint alleging that Pat Oakes was running a chop shop,” said Edwards, referring to an operation through which stolen vehicles are disassembled and sold for parts. “We started investigating the Northeast Boulevard location with DMV initially. The investigation showed criminal activity at this location and at Harnett County.”
Along the way, Harnett authorities joined the multi-agency probe, as did ALE, SBI and the DA’s office.
Oakes was charged with conducting a chop shop operation, possession of stolen vehicle, two counts of purchasing a vehicle for purposes of scrapping/dismantling in violation of N.C. General Statutes, simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Oakes was placed under $10,000 secured bond and subsequently bonded out, authorities said.
Oakes was served similar charges from the Harnett Sheriff’s Office, but they were not immediately known.
“We do expect additional charges from both locations, at least against the owners,” said Edwards, noting that Oakes faces serious felony charges. “He was piecing out those cars and there are rules required for salvaging cars. He was violating those. He was bringing in vehicles that were not registered and you’re supposed to go through DMV. It is a felony offense to operate without complying to those state regulations and go through the process before dismantling cars.”
According to N.C. General Statute, a person is guilty of a Class G felony if they alter, destroy, disassemble, dismantle, reassemble or store any motor vehicle or part “the person knows or has reasonable grounds to believe has been illegally obtained by theft, fraud or other illegal means.”
Edwards pointed to the many vehicles parked at Pat Oakes Automotive, saying “every one is a potential violation.”
A Pat Oakes Automotive employee, Jack Baird Stogsdill III, 20, of 6243 Crocket Raynor Road, Linden, was charged with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia during the execution of the search warrant.
He was arrested at the business on Monday along with Oakes. According to reports, 73 grams of marijuana was seized during a search.
Stogsdill’s bond was set at $5,000 secured.