Car thief wanted by marshals is arrested
Georgia man found in downtown Toledo
4/20/2011Authorities claimed that "one of the country's biggest car thieves" was arrested in Toledo Tuesday afternoon at a downtown hotel.
Everett Tripodis, 35, of Atlanta, was arrested at the Park Inn, 101 North Summit St., by the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force about 3:30 p.m.
U.S. marshals in Atlanta received information that Tripodis, who has 20 active warrants and fled last week from Georgia, was headed to Ohio. Marshals across the state lines kept in constant contact, eventually leading to the arrest.
Tripodis has been stealing cars since he was 15, authorities said. In 2009, he was released from a federal prison where he had been held for stealing cars and then selling them in other states.
Authorities say Tripodis favors new, high-end cars such as Range Rovers, Cadillac Escalades, and Maseratis and although he was caught in Toledo, authorities said they don't think he was here on business. Police ordered a red Ford Edge, which Tripodis had been driving, towed from the hotel's parking lot. The Edge was rented, not stolen.
Authorities said Tripodis has been known to dress as an employee at a dealership, take keys, and drive off.