FAIRVIEW, Tenn. -
A routine traffic stop in Williamson County on Tuesday led to the arrest of three men and may solve crimes in as many of six states.
Authorities told Nashville's News 2 Investigates upon stopping the three men for speeding in a construction zone on Interstate 40, the officer discovered several large metallic catalytic converters inside the vehicle.
Arresting Officer Shane Dunning said the trio inside the car, who were identified as Dustin South and brothers Bobby Ray Chumbley and Terry Thomas Chumbley, were acting nervous.
"None of their stories matched," Dunning said.
Dunning reported Terry Thomas Chumbley was sitting in the backseat of the car on top of a catalytic converter, which according to police, had been cut off a 2012 Dodge work truck hours earlier.
Dunning added upon opening the car's trunk he discovered six additional stolen catalytic converts, a generator and two power saws.
"It's very unusual to see this type of material in the backseat of a car," Dunning said.
Authorities told Nashville's News 2 Investigates they believe the three men drove to Benton, Arkansas where they allegedly used bolt cutters to cut through a fence at a Dodge dealership in an effort to steal catalytic converters off of new work trucks.
"We called and talked to GM and he checked the inventory. When he was returning to the phone he said he had nine 2012 diesels and all the catalytic converters had been completely cut off," Dunning said.
The dealership employee reported damages could total more than $60,000 and that the vehicles may have to be totaled since there are federal guidelines governing catalytic converters and emissions.
Police told Nashville's News 2 Investigates the men were headed to a scrap yard in Kentucky when they were taken into custody.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Metro police and other police departments from several states are looking at the men for other possible crimes.
Passenger Bobby Ray Chumbley was also wanted by police for aggravated assault charges.
