A three-year investigation regarding practices within the metal salvage business has resulted in the arrest of the business manager of United Salvage and Auto on Highway 903.

Sawyer

The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office charged Scott Sawyer, 48, of Roanoke Rapids, with 32 counts of failing to maintain records for metal associated transactions, two counts of receiving stolen property and one count of destroying evidence.

The charges against Sawyer, according to Major Bruce Temple, are the result of an ongoing investigation into the alleged practices of the company.

Temple said the cases involve transactions at the business this year, but he declined in a press release to discuss them. Temple said the case remains under investigation.

Sheriff Jeff Frazier said the counts Sawyer faces reflect those that investigators can readily prove. “In this investigation we came up with positive evidence.”

Metal theft has been strong throughout the last three years. “Metal has been a hot item to steal and people have been going to different salvage yards left and right. It’s just absolutely ridiculous for someone to just smash it.”

That salvage companies are allegedly complicit, Frazier said, “Makes it a harder job for officers and harder for county residents. There’s been numerous times we spoke to dealers about changing their practices. It just didn’t seem like it was going to happen.”

The arrest sends a message, Frazier said. “With the theft part there’s still the risk of getting caught, but being able to buy it regardless of what it is and failing to get information is really contributing to the problem. We believe they can still get the metals they need without receiving stolen items.”

Frazier said there are more arrests to come. “For three years we’ve been trying to get them to cooperate and it just keeps going on and on. For Major Temple, it came to a head that we had to get our point across that they’ve got to stop and do it by the law.”

Sawyer had no comment when contacted by email this afternoon.

He was released in lieu of a $70,000 unsecured bond and has an August 29 court date.