Robertsville Man Charged With Vehicle Tampering After Being Found With Chopped Up Truck

A Robertsville man has been charged with vehicle tampering after he was pulled over carrying a stolen truck that had been “chopped” into parts.

Jerry Hendrickson, 37, faces one count of tampering with a motor vehicle.

His bond was set at $25,000.

Franklin County Sheriff Steven Pelton said that property crime detectives were contacted by a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper in reference to a suspicious traffic stop. 

The trooper had performed a traffic stop on a male subject who was operating an older model Dodge pickup truck pulling a trailer. The trailer contained a Mitsubishi Raider pickup truck that had been ‘chopped’ into pieces. The parted-out vehicle had not been reported stolen, therefore the subject was released on scene. 

On June 8, a subject contacted the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office wishing to report his 2008 Mitsubishi Raider pickup truck stolen. He stated the vehicle had been on the parking lot of a local vehicle repair shop for the last 48 hours and he had just realized it was stolen.

Intel was gathered by Property Crime Detectives and they responded to a home in the 200 block of South 2nd Street in Robertsville. They made contact with a white male who was in possession of the older Dodge pickup truck. They also located more parts belonging to the parted-out Mitsubishi pickup truck in the suspect’s backyard. After further investigation, it was confirmed the parted-out truck belonged to the victim who had just reported it stolen.