Cops catch catalytic converter thief in the act, Doral police say

Police: Hialeah man busted with 6 stolen catalytic converters

Davislay Gonzalez (MDCR)

DORAL, Fla. – A “loud metal grinding noise” at 2:46 a.m. caught the attention of Doral police officers on patrol outside a motel Sunday, leading them to catch a suspected thief in the act, according to an arrest report.

According to the report, those officers, patrolling the Extended Stay America at 8720 NW 33rd St., saw Davislay Gonzalez, who had pulled his Mercedes-Benz SUV close to the victim’s car, crouched down with a jigsaw, trying to get under the vehicle.

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Police said they told Gonzalez, 34, to stop what he was doing and surrender, but he instead took off and led police on a foot chase, ditching the jigsaw midway.

Officers later apprehended Gonzalez and found six catalytic converters in the back seat of his Benz, along with “several” extra saw blades, police said.

According to the report, Gonzalez had the catalytic converter on the victim’s vehicle halfway sawed off before officers interrupted the theft.

Gonzalez, who lives in Hialeah, was arrested on six counts of grand theft of motor vehicle parts and one count each of dealing in stolen property, attempted burglary of an unoccupied conveyance, possession of burglary tools, criminal mischief, resisting arrest and loitering or prowling.

According to jail records, the Cuban national was already out on felony bond for two burglary charges and a count of resisting arrest.


About the Author
Chris Gothner headshot

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.

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