Arrest alleges chop shop operation

Oconee sheriff’s officers went to work last month to put a stop to a chop shop being operated near Westminster.  That investigation led to an arrest Friday of a 47-year old man.  Verline Dewayne Whitfield is accused in three arrest warrants of operating a chop chop and removing or falsifying a vehicle identification number on two motorcycles at his property—-238 Bruce Road.  Whitfield was arrested Friday morning and released from custody a couple of hours later under the terms of a combined surety bond of $30 thousand dollars.