UPDATE: West Columbia police officers arrest two after locating active chop shop, stolen items

West Columbia, SC 05/04/2022 (Paul Kirby) – Officers with the City of West Columbia Police Department have arrested two people and uncovered a chop shop in the 400 block of White Avenue before 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. According to a witness on the scene, they first discovered a stolen van that had been taken from an HVAC business located on Platt Springs Road. Inside of the van and the house where the van was found, officers also located a number of other items that they believe were stolen.

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A neighbor said that two people were taken away in handcuffs a short time after the van was found. According to a spokesman for the West Columbia Police Department, these two were James Baxter Furr and Loree Gene Gray. Furr has been charged with operating a chop shop and grand larceny. Gray has been charged with receiving stolen goods. Both were booked into the Lexington County Detention Center late Wednesday afternoon.

According to the spokesman for the WCPD, officers spent much of the day executing a search warrant at the home. A neighbor said that officers were on the scene much of the day removing items from the home, inventorying them, and taking them away.