2 arrested in North Memphis chop shop bust

Yahoo

28-01-2025

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Two people were taken into custody following a chop shop bust in North Memphis on Monday.
On January 24, the Bartlett Police Department received a report that a 2019 Nissan Maxima had been stolen. The next day, the victims advised police that a man came to their house to return a wallet, which the man claimed to have found in the Chelsea Avenue and Warford Street area.
On Monday, the stolen Nissan Maxima was found parked in a driveway in the 1400 block of Oriole Street, completely stripped apart.
Other stripped vehicles were reportedly found on the property, leading detectives to label the home as an active chop shop.
Suspect charged with accessory previously connected to Young Dolph murder
Memphis Police Department Auto Theft Task Force investigators spoke with the owner of the home and his sister, Latasha Dunner, who told them that her brother's business was called Dunner Enterprises. Dunner was then taken into custody.
While investigators were on the scene, a white Chevrolet Impala was seen circling the neighborhood. The driver was identified as Kenneth Langs, who police determined to be the man who returned the victim's wallet days before. Langs was then taken into custody.
Reports say the stolen Nissan Maxima was recovered from the home, but it was deemed a total loss with an estimated $26,500 in damage.
Police also found that the home had not had active utilities since July 2024, and the occupants had rigged the MLGW meter to illegally power the home.
📡 for Memphis and the Mid-South.
📧 and have the latest top stories sent right to your inbox.
Dunner allegedly told police that she and her brother owned all of the vehicles on the property and admitted to watching numerous people take the vehicles apart. Police say she admitted that she keeps to herself and does not worry about what is going on in the driveway.
Langs also spoke with police. He allegedly admitted to being paid $100 to strip the Nissan Maxima. Langs told police that he lied about finding the victim's wallet at Chelsea Avenue and Warford Street, stating that he actually found it in the front yard of the home on Oriole Street.
Langs was also charged for stripping a Dodge Charger that was reported stolen in December 2024.
Langs, 35, was charged with two counts of Theft of Property $10,000-$60,000 – Motor Vehicle, two counts of Felony Vandalism $2,500-$10,000 and $10,000-$60,000, and Violation of Chop Shop Law.
Dunner, 48, was charged with Theft of Property $10,000-$60,000 – Motor Vehicle, Felony Vandalism $10,000-$60,000, and Violation of Chop Shop Law.
Their bonds have not been set. Both Langs and Dunner are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday morning.
Dunner's brother whom officers spoke with on the scene has not been taken into custody.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.