ATLANTA — Only moments after Channel 2 Consumer Investigator Jim Strickland exposed a self-described pastor suspected of passing bad checks to purchase used cars, Atlanta police officers were making the arrest at a downtown hotel.
"Putting the perpetrators picture up on TV actually helped. It really got things going," said Jim Ellis Automotive Group Vice President of Operations Mark Frost.
Both the chain’s Chevrolet and Mazda stores had sold cars to 24-year-old DeJarius Thurman.
The Mazda store recovered a used Honda moments after Strickland's original story aired.
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Strickland texted Thurman on Monday seeking comment about complaints against him and notifying him that his picture would be shown.
He texted back: "Honda is located and Cadillac are both located at 25 Pine Tree Circle Decatur. Please don't do that."
"We went back to the address and the Honda in question that you told me about was sitting there in an apartment there in DeKalb," said the dealership's recovery contractor Barry Bannister. %
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Thurman was at the Marriott Marquis. A police report shows hotel staff told officers Thurman ran up a $4,500 bill on five rooms, and tried to pay with a series of checks on closed accounts.
Staff called police and Thurman was in custody 45 minutes after our story aired.
A Lexus and a BMW, also reported by dealers as being bought with bad checks, were in the valet garage.
"If we didn't have that story and the people hadn't reacted, I'd still be looking for him today," Bannister said.
A judge has denied bond. Thurman goes back to court judge in two weeks.
The dealerships are hoping additional charges involving this car and others are tacked on by then.
Cox Media Group
