Authorities in Memphis have brought a slew of charges against a man accused of stealing a car and attempting to sell it back to the owner.
Per Action News 5, the suspect, identified as Marvin Roper, 20, has been charged with motor vehicle theft, felony vandalism, two counts of evading arrest, machine gun possession, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, altering/falsifying car tags, extortion, and driving with a suspended license.
Jail records also revealed that there were four active indictments against Roper. The suspect’s arrest affidavit stated that authorities were notified about a stolen 2017 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack on October 3.
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Roper allegedly attempted to sell the vehicle back to the owner for $2,300, authorities said, adding that the suspect made the move four days after the theft. Kelley Blue Book estimates the car’s value at $30,872.
The owner is said to have contacted authorities after Roper arranged a meeting with him at Harbor Freight on Summer Avenue. Several task forces clad as undercover agents went to the meeting point and waited outside.
Police said Roper ultimately drove to the store in the stolen car while his girlfriend arrived in a Buick Envista. Roper late exited the stolen vehicle before the suspect and his girlfriend later drove to a nearby gas station, Action News 5 reported.
Roper is said to have entered the gas station after officers tried to gather at the parking lot. But Roper allegedly exited the store and drove away in the stolen vehicle after he saw the blue lights and sirens.
The suspect left his girlfriend at the scene, with police saying they detained and interrogated her. She was, however, not charged.
Roper allegedly engaged police in a dangerous high-speed pursuit. He is said to have ultimately ditched the vehicle after stopping at a gas station to refuel. Authorities later retrieved a Glock handgun with a conversion switch, four Glock magazines, two extended Glock magazines, a box of ammunition, a Dodge key fob, and multiple loose rounds from the stolen car.
Besides that, police determined a temporary tag retrieved from the car was falsified. Authorities also said the stolen car had been damaged, and that cost was estimated at $3,700.
