Austin Police Arrest 56-Year-Old Man Found With Six Catalytic Converters, Narcotics and a Cat in His Vehicle
In Austin, Travis County, Texas, the Austin Police Department (APD) on November 13 highlighted a recent arrest: on October 28, patrol officers responding to a reported disturbance involving a person waving a firearm from a vehicle detained the driver, identified as Junius Harrell, 56. During the investigation, officers observed suspected narcotics in plain view and searched the vehicle, locating narcotics, drug paraphernalia, six catalytic converters, and a cat inside the vehicle.
Harrell was arrested and charged with Unauthorized Possession of Catalytic Converter, a state jail felony, and Manufacture & Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Officers seized the evidence and transported the cat to the Austin Animal Center.
Between August 1 and November 8, 2026, APD's Henry Sector in southeast Austin received 31 reports of catalytic converter thefts, primarily at apartment complexes during late evening and overnight hours on weekdays — 17 reports in August, four in September, 10 in October, and none so far in November.
Under Texas law, knowingly possessing a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle without authorization is a state jail felony under Texas Penal Code Section 31.21 and can be elevated to a third-degree felony in certain circumstances. APD advises residents to park in secured garages or well-lit areas, consider anti-theft shields or cable locks, and etch a vehicle identification number onto the converter. Residents should call 9-1-1 for a crime in progress and may report non-emergency suspicious activity through iReportAustin or the Austin 3-1-1 app.
(Source: Austin Police Department)
Source: Austin Police Department
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：执法行动中查获的催化转换器。照片：公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Catalytic converters seized during a law-enforcement operation. Photo: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
