Crime & Safety

New Arrest Made in Pasco Chop Shop

Dwayne Keene was arrested a month after a chop shop was found at his home.

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Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies were searching Dwayne Keene’s home at 4116 Primavera Drive in Land O’ Lakes in August when they found parts belonging to several stolen vehicles. 

The find included two diesel engines, airbags, a truck body, a partially dismantled truck, a stolen transmission, a window from, a transfer case and two scooters, according to an arrest report.

Joanna Keene, Dwayne Keene’s wife, and Justin Northrup were  at the Primavera Drive Home Aug. 6 when found the vehicle parts. 

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Dwayne Keene wasn’t home. On Sept. 19, deputies found Keene had returned to Primavera Drive, and they arrested him.

He was charged with operating a chop shop, seven counts of grand theft and two counts of possessing a vehicle with an altered identification number.

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Deputies believe Northrup worked as a mechanic at the Land O’ Lakes chop shop and one in Moon Lake, but they have only arrested him in connection to the Moon Lake one, Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Doug Tobin. On April 29, detectives arrested Gary Lynn Baker and charged him with operating a chop shop at 10809 Malati St. Deputies found that Northrup’s fingerprints led back to that chop shop.

Northrup and Joanna Keene were each charged with operating or aiding and abetting a chop shop.

The investigation into the chop shops continues.  


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