Lang
10/14/20
A transient faces charges that he stole a car that had been dropped off at an Iowa City body shop.
According to arrest records, the victim dropped his 2015 Honda Civic off at Chuck Smith Body Shop on Gilbert Court around 6pm on April 23rd, 2019. He said he dropped his keys off in the drop box and left.
The next morning the car was not found at the shop, and the owner reported it stolen to Iowa City Police. The vehicle was valued at over $10,000.
The next day the car was located in Bloomington, Illinois. 35-year-old Joseph Velazquez was driving, and was taken into custody.
Velazquez was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 2pm Tuesday and charged with 1st Degree Theft. If convicted, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison.