Two Indianapolis men were arrested police say they found recently sawed-off catalytic converters in the back of their vehicle following a brief pursuit.
Bradley D. Cox, 28, was arrested on five counts of felony theft. Gavin L. Lucas, 30, was arrested on five counts of theft, along with charges of resisting law enforcement and obstruction of justice, all felonies. Lucas was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of operating a vehicle without having ever obtained a license, driving while suspended, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, false informing/reporting and resisting law enforcement.
Greenwood police were on patrol Monday night near the intersection of County Line Road and Meridian Street when they observed a black sedan turn onto County Line Road. The sedan later made a lane change without using its turn signal, leading police to attempt a traffic stop, according to a Greenwood Police Department report.
As police attempted the traffic stop, the sedan accelerated at a high rate of speed onto Summer Walk East Drive and drove off the roadway. Police then ordered the vehicle’s three occupants to exit, and one of the occupants — later identified as Lucas — exited the driver’s side and ran, according to the report.
Lucas then fell into a nearby pond, and when he came out of the pond, police ordered him to put his hands behind his back. He refused, then tossed a cell phone he had in his hands into the pond. When officers asked why he did that, Lucas said it was his friend’s phone. Lucas was then taken into custody, the report says.
Around the same time, another officer ordered a person who was sitting in the backseat — later identified as Cox — out of the car and placed him under arrest, the report says.
The third person in the car was not charged with a crime.
Officers asked Lucas why he ran and he said he ran because he was scared and because he had marijuana in his vehicle, the report says.
When officers looked inside the car, they found five catalytic converters that appeared to have been recently cut off from vehicles. They also found several tools which are commonly used to cut off catalytic converters, including a saw, saw blades, a jack and a tailpipe cutter, according to the report.
Officers also found marijuana, a small glass pipe and a pill container with 39 yellow pills later determined to be a Schedule IV controlled substance. Lucas told officers the pills belonged to his girlfriend, the report says.
When officers searched Lucas through the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles database, they discovered his license was suspended with a prior conviction, stemming from a March incident of driving while suspended. They also discovered he had never received a valid license, according to the report.
Both Cox and Lucas were taken to the Johnson County jail. While en-route to the jail, the men were recorded on the van’s cameras having a conversation. At one point during the conversation, Cox admitted they had gotten too many converters, the report says.
Cox’s bond is set at $6,000, and Lucas’ is set at $13,400.
Greenwood police spokesperson Jason Grable was not aware of where the converters came from and did not know of any subsequent investigations into their origin as of Thursday morning.
