THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603130513
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
At the same home where the discovery of a ripped-off all-terrain vehicle eventually led to an internal investigation and reprimands in the Chesapeake Police Department, detectives have found an expensive stolen sports car.
Charged with receiving a stolen Nissan 300 ZX, changing the serial numbers, and altering a title and registration is Christopher J. White, whose name surfaced during the investigation of the theft of an ATV from the home of Chesapeake Vice Mayor Robert T. Nance Jr.
Chesapeake authorities have said White could be one of several possible witnesses against a Chesapeake police captain's son, William L. Spruill Jr., 23, of Corapeake, N.C., who was been charged with stealing the ATV.
An internal investigation prompted by Nance's complaints about delays in the investigation led to the eventual reprimands of five Chesapeake police officers, including Capt. William L. Spruill. Nance and others have alleged some police officers may have interfered with the ATV theft investigation and a similar investigation involving the sons of other prominent Chesapeake citizens.
The ATV theft report, and now the ATV itself, have disappeared, which may hamper the case against Spruill Jr. The ATV had been returned to Nance's home, but it was later stolen again, according to Nance.
White, whose 21st birthday is today, was not charged with the ATV theft and has not been charged with car theft.
The three charges lodged against White so far are all felonies. The investigation into who stole the car is continuing, Virginia Beach police spokesman Mike Carey said.
Although the car was reported stolen in December and recovered last month, police waited until Tuesday to release thedetails because of that investigation, Carey said.
Carey said that on Dec. 16, White took the $20,000 used car for a test drive from Green-Gifford Car Center in Norfolk, but didn't buy it. Later that night, the car vanished from the lot.
Carey alleged White swapped two vehicle identification number plates - one on the dashboard and one near the door - with plates from a similar car that had belonged to him. That made it appear as though the stolen car legitimately belonged to White, Carey said.
But the stolen car had been equipped with an electronic tracking device, called LoJack, which was activated after the theft.
Officer John Lourenco was riding in a police cruiser with special tracking equipment Feb. 7 when he picked up the signal. The signal led Lourenco to White's home in the 2200 block of General Booth Blvd., but the driveway was empty. Carey said White let the officer into the garage and said the car was his.
The LoJack signal also contained the identification number of the stolen car, which did not match the numbers affixed to the car in White's garage. Detectives determined the ID plates had been altered.
After impounding the car, police found other identification numbers that proved the Nissan was the same one that had been stolen from the Norfolk dealership, Carey said.
White was arrested and later released on $5,000 bail.
A woman who answered the phone at the Whites' home referred calls to White's attorney, Michael Robusto. Robusto said White maintains that he was unaware the car was stolen.
Robusto said White's preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 18. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Christopher J. White
Graphic
KRT
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: ARREST AUTOMOBILE THEFT LOJACK by CNB