SIOUX FALLS — Two Chicago men arrested in Minnesota have been tied to the theft of catalytic converters from cars in Sioux Falls, police said Monday, March 6.
The case unfolded at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 2, when a Minnesota State Highway Patrol trooper attempted to pull over a car in Jackson County, about an hour east of Sioux Falls. The driver of the car fled and after a pursuit was stopped, police spokesman Sam Clemens said during the regular media briefing on Monday.
Troopers found 22 catalytic converters in the car, Clemens said.
The converters are part of an automobile's exhaust system, between the engine and the muffler, that use a chemical reaction to reduce pollution. They contain three valuable metals — platinum, palladium and rhodium — which make them tempting targets for thieves.
Minnesota law enforcement contacted detectives in Sioux Falls, who were able to connect the two men to a theft of converters from the Vern Eide dealership lot at 4500 block of East Arrowhead Parkway. Surveillance video shows two men on the lot about 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.
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“We believe they were in Sioux Falls,” he said. “We’re not sure exactly how many places they stole catalytic converters but there’s a chance there could be others out there. If anybody had catalytic converters stolen and they have surveillance we want them to contact police.”
Clemens said they have connected the two men to 12 converters in Sioux Falls so far.
The men arrested are Demario Malaik Brown, 24, and Navell Nashawn Morris, 25.
The pair are being held in Jackson County on warrants including one count of intentional damage to property and one count of grand theft.
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