Michigan man faces charges after Corvettes worth $1.2 million stolen from Kentucky plant
A Michigan man is in custody after eight Corvettes valued at more than $1 million were stolen Saturday from the General Motors plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the sports cars are built.
Court records show that Deantae Walker, 21, of Westland faces several charges, including receiving stolen property of $10,000 or more, criminal mischief, evading police and resisting arrest.
Bowling Green Police Department Public Information Officer Ronnie Ward said Wednesday that Walker is also being charged with engaging in organized crime after authorities discovered that all eight vehicles, valued at $1.2 million, left the plant at the same time.
Records show police in Bowling Green were notified of the incident when the Warren County (Kentucky) Sheriff's Office contacted them, saying they located what they believed to be a stolen Corvette. A witness said she saw a man driving a Corvette with a window sticker still attached at an apartment complex, and the manager of the GM plant confirmed the vehicle, along with seven others, had been stolen. As police continued to investigate, several of the other vehicles were located within 2 miles of the surrounding area.
More: Iconic Corvette faces changes ahead, but enthusiasts are confident
Later, a car transport driver notified police of a suspicious transaction. The driver was scheduled to transport one 2017 Corvette from Bowling Green to Michigan, but when he arrived, he was greeted by Walker and one other individual with three of the stolen vehicles. The driver said he was rushed by the pair to load the vehicles, but contacted police because he thought something was wrong.
Walker was arrested at the scene following a "brief struggle," with assistance from bystanders. The other person drove away in a Jeep with Ohio tags. Police were still looking for that person.
Records show that as Walker was later being booked into the Warren County Regional Jail, he said he would have "been paid big" had he been able to get the cars to Michigan.
GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Senior Communications Manager Rachel Bagshaw said all the vehicles have been recovered and the company is working with affected car dealers and customers.
"We work with law enforcement agencies to identify emerging theft methods that affect our products and make updates as needed to defend against them," Bagshaw said. "As a result of this cooperation, we are aware of theft methods used at our facilities and employ appropriate countermeasures, the details of which cannot be shared for security reasons."
Reach Marina Johnson at Marina.Johnson@courier-journal.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Corvette theft case: Man charged with stealing $1.2M worth in Kentucky
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