Criminal Complaints: Stolen Vehicle Sold to Unsuspecting Local

Stolen Vehicle Sold to Unsuspecting Local

A warrant for the arrest of Andrew Leroy Mercado, 29, of Koppel, has been filed after he sold a vehicle that belonged to Linda Boots.

According to the criminal complaint, on Dec. 8, the buyer of the vehicle came to the police station to report an issue he was having with the seller of the 1998 Toyota Avalon he had purchased two days earlier. After the victim had seen the vehicle, which had no registration plate, the back seat was ripped out, and the steering column was disassembled, he purchased it from the Mercado for $120.00. Mercado made a bill of sale, written on notebook paper that read “I Andrew Mercado (signature) sold a 1997 Avalon to (victims name) on 12/06/16.”

The victim further stated that Dec. 8 he began receiving texts and phone calls from Mercado and Boots threatening him to bring the vehicle back. Boots’ texts and phone messages related to the fact that the vehicle was hers and should not have been sold because she did not give Mercado permission to sell the vehicle.

 

Two Men Face Drug Possession Charges

According to the criminal complaint, filed on Dec. 9, a State Police officer conducted a traffic stop in New Castle with a vehicle matching a description that dispatch had given, a red truck pickup truck with stickers on the wear window and matching license plate number – dispatched advised that the driver of the truck was asking residents where he could purchase drugs.

The officer identified the driver as Anthony Paul Procopio, 36, of New Castle, and noticed a strong smell of alcohol emitting from the drivers breath and empty beer cans scattered throughout the vehicle, the officer also noticed that Procopio had bloodshot, glossy eyes. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Shawn Patrick Hedglin, 44, also of New Castle, a small backpack and plastic bag separated the two males.

Procopio stated he was looking for his step son in the area, and when the officer asked who the man was in the passenger seat Procopio stated that he didn’t know. The officer questioned why he would have someone in the passenger seat if he didn’t know him, and the driver responded that he was helping Hedglin look for his step son. The officer asked Hedglin if he knew Procopio’s step son, and he stated he did not, further stating that he got into the truck to help Procopio, who he did not know, find Procopio’s step son.

Procopio stated that the officer could search the vehicle, and Hedglin also agreed to allowing the officer to search the backpack which he claimed was his. The officer uncovered two small orange pils marked G77 in Procopio’s wallet, both males denied possession of the pills and Procopio stated he doesn’t know how they got there. Further search of the vehicle uncovered several other unmarked white pills. Hedglin’s backpack revealed a spoon with reside and a syringe. Hedglin denied knowing that there was paraphernalia in his backpack.

The officer later found out the orange pills were Oxymorphone Hydrochloride, the white pills remain unidentified.

Procopio is facing charges of prohibited acts: drugs and controlled substances, two counts of driving under the influence, windshield obstruction, driving while operating priviledge is suspended or revoked, and restriction on alcoholic beverages,

Hedglin is facing charges of two counts of prohibited acts: drugs and controlled substances.