CLEVELAND – Authorities today charged nearly three dozen people in connection with an auto theft ring operating on the West Side that prosecutors say stole more than 100 cars and then dismantled them for parts.
Members of a task force that included Cleveland Police, the FBI, the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office began making arrests early Tuesday morning, following an 18-month investigation.
At least 26 people were arrested on charges, including conspiracy, corruption, fraud and theft.
Two of the accused, Victor Padilla and Juan Hernandez, also face involuntary manslaughter charges in the death of Calvin McMahan, 76, said a spokesman for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason.
Padilla and Hernandez, along with Kelvin Pantojas, 16, stole a car in April 2010 from the Tinseltown movie theater in Stark County, prosecutors said.
Pantojas was driving the car northbound on I-77 when Fairlawn police began to pursue them in a chase reaching more than 100 m.p.h. Police cut off the chase, but Pantojas continued to drive at a high rate of speed.
Several miles down the road, the vehicle struck and killed McMahan as he was crossing I-77, prosecutors said. The car then crashed into a light pole, killing Pantojas.
Police said the chop-shop ring stole more than 100 cars worth more than $200,000.
Most of the vehicles were older model Hondas or Acuras, which have a number of interchangeable parts, prosecutors said. The newest was a 2007 BMW.
Authorities towed more than two dozen stolen vehicles and parts from homes throughout the Cleveland area.
Cleveland Police launched the investigation following a rash of auto thefts and honed in on the ring after receiving tips from concerned neighbors.
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