YORK COUNTY, SC (YCSO) – On May 3, 2019 York County Deputies arrested and charged Antonio Lamar Nelson, 33, of Columbia ,SC for sawing off and stealing multiple catalytic converters from vehicles in the Rock Hill area.
On May 3rd at approximately 2:50 AM while performing property checks in the area of Saluda Road in Rock Hill, Lt. David Frye observed a suspicious person wearing a dust mask, stand up between two cars at the Family Auto Sales. The person, later identified as Antonio Nelson, was in the process of cutting off catalytic converters from underneath cars in the parking lot. Nelson had already sawed off seven converters before he was caught in the act.
Nelson ran away from the area, only to be found a short time later by York County Sheriff’s K-9 Units.
Nelson is also the possible suspect of the previous catalytic converter theft on April 18th and May 1st from Family Auto Sales.
Nelson has been charged with 30 counts of Larceny Breaking into a Motor Vehicle (X22), Malicious Injury to Property (X2), Malicious Injury to Property to Obtain Metals (X2), Grand Larceny (X2), and Possession of Tools Capable of Being Used in a Crime (X2).
It’s believed Nelson may be responsible for several catalytic converter thefts in Rock Hill Police Department jurisdiction. More charges are pending upon further investigation.