Monette, AR — (JonesboroRightNow.com) — July 15, 2025 — Deputies arrested a Blytheville man after they said he swapped the vehicle identification number on a truck that was sold online.
According to an affidavit, Craighead County Deputy Jacob Wright received information from Monette Police Chief Brian Carmichael about a stolen truck that was sold on Facebook Marketplace out of Monette. It was discovered that the VIN provided to the buyer, who was from Illinois, was associated with a truck located in Texas.
Wright saw the truck pass Jordan’s Quik Stop on Highway 18 and attempted to turn onto Drew Avenue, which is where a traffic stop was performed.
The affidavit said the 54-year-old driver immediately got out of the truck and said, “What’s going on? Is this truck stolen or something?”
A run-through of the man’s records showed that his driver’s license was suspended. Wright also said that the VINs on the windshield and driver’s door matched the truck that was at the dealership in Texas, indicating the numbers had been swapped out. The man was ultimately arrested.
On July 14, Craighead County Judge David Boling found probable cause to charge the man with altering or changing engine or other numbers and driving on a suspended driver’s license.
He’s being held in the Craighead County Detention Center on a $10,000 cash/surety bond, awaiting his next scheduled court appearance on Aug. 1.