TOCCOA — A domestic dispute involving two Toccoa residents resulted in the arrest of those individuals in connection with a multi-county/multi-state chop shop operation.
As a result, approximately $100,000 in property was recovered resulting in multiple felony charges, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley announced late Sunday night.
Deputies responded to a domestic dispute call at a Vickery Road home on Aug. 18. When they arrived, they observed a man bleeding from his eye, according to Shirley. He was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment.
Witnesses told deputies that Michael Duane Smith, 39, of Vickery Road started an altercation with Elvis Leon Bates, 48, also of Vickery Road, according to Shirley. During that altercation, Smith assaulted Bates.
While securing the area, deputies observed an enclosed trailer that had been reported stolen in October 2017, Shirley said. Investigators arrived and began working to gather information about other items on the property, following up with an additional search warrant that was executed during daylight hours.
“During this search, investigators located another vehicle which had been disassembled,” a statement from Shirley reads. “Investigators were able to cross-reference some of the part numbers and determine that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Hall County. Investigators also recovered a large number of tools from thefts occurring in Stephens County, as well as two more utility trailers that had the serial numbers removed.”
Smith was arrested Aug. 21 in Oconee County, S.C., on Stephens County warrants for aggravated battery, aggravated assault, and simple battery, according to Shirley. He waived extradition the same night and was transported to the Stephens County Jail.
Bates has been charged with three counts of felony theft by receiving stolen property; two counts of criminal use of an article with altered identification mark; possession of a motor vehicle where the identification had been removed; owning, operating, and conducting a “chop shop”; and misdemeanor theft by receiving stolen property.
Bates currently is being held at the Stephens County Jail pending a bond hearing.
Shirley said investigators are continuing to follow up on the case and additional criminal charges and arrests may follow.
The sheriff praised deputies for their thorough observation of the area while investigating a domestic assault.
“One construction trailer with the name of the company on both sides, reported stolen almost a year ago, was still fresh on Deputy Jameson’s mind,” Shirley’s statement reads. “Further confirmation of the stolen construction trailer was the first of many dominos that began to fall and land two thieves, as well as tens of thousands of dollars in property recovered.”
