Three people arrested as authorities pursue stolen vehicles case

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office impound yard was jam-packed with used cars Friday as a result of an ongoing investigation into an alleged Blacksburg chop shop.

Altogether, Sheriff Bill Blanton said investigators had seized 11 vehicles overall which were either stolen or had altered vehicle identification numbers.

Three people were arrested last week, including a Blacksburg garage owner, but that likely won't be the end of the case.

Blanton said investigators expect more arrests.

William H. Tessner Jr., 60, of Tessner's Garage, was charged with operating a chop shop and possession of a stolen vehicle, according to the sheriff's office.

Also charged with operating a chop shop is Alonzo Webber, of 434 Hetty Hill St in Gaffney.

A third man, Charles Harrison, of 1233 Wilcox Ave, Gaffney, is charged with two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle.

All three men are free on bond.

According to one of two incident reports that were released last Wednesday, a detective located a white Ford F250 truck at 1233 Wilcox Ave. that he learned was stolen from Spartanburg.

Police said the truck displayed a Tessner Auto paper tag.

They claimed Harrison had purchased the truck from Tessner.

In the second incident report, another investigator wrote that a 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche was located near Blacksburg Primary School and Tessner's garage.

The vehicle identification number on the truck was registered to Harrison and allegedly was purchased from Tessner.

However, police claim the vehicle identification number was incorrect and records for the true VIN allegedly revealed the truck had been reported stolen from Richland County in November 2005.