ROWAN COUNTY, NC (WBTV) -
Nine Rowan County businesses and individuals have been charged after police say they were caught accepting metal without following the proper procedures.
On June 20, the Rowan County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Division began an undercover investigation into the county's scrap metal and precious metal dealers.
The law requires businesses that buy scrap metal or precious metal from individuals to record information about the seller and the items purchased.
This law is designed to make it harder for thieves to unload stolen items like copper or jewelry. It also makes it easier to catch the thieves and return property, deputies say.
According to police, the operation involved an undercover Sheriff's Detective who went into businesses offering to sell jewelry or metal. If the business was willing to buy the items without identification from the detective, they were immediately visited by more detectives, and charges were filed.
During the operation a total of 29 Rowan County businesses were visited. Of those, nine were willing to make the purchase without any identification.
These businesses and workers were charged with misdemeanor failure to maintain transaction records of regulated metal property:
Richard Wayne Russell Jr., 45, Always Recycle on Enochville School Road in Kannapolis
Christopher Lee Russell, 31, Always Recycle, Enochville School Road, Kannapolis
David Wayne Parrish, 50, Kannapolis Auto on Geneva Drive in Rockwell
Bill Gene Lake, 82, Top Dollar Coins on HWY 52 in Granite Quarry
Pamela Sparkman, 54, This-N-That Trading on HWY 52 in Rockwell
Michael Todd Bramblett, 42, Main Street Tobacco on Main Street in China Grove
Jerry M. McGee, 67, Security Pawn on South Main Street in Salisbury
Gary W. Yost, 54, Yost Estate Liquidations on Faith Road, in Faith
Brock Vanscoter, 25, PEARL`S PAWN & GUN on Highway 29 in China Grove
Charles McDaries, 46, PEARL`S PAWN & GUN, Highway 29, China Grove
Keith Holshouser, 58, We Buy Gold on Sides Road in Rockwell
