Raleigh Police Target Veteran’s Dodge Charger After Task Force Raises Theft Concerns
RALEIGH, N.C. — A retired U.S. Army veteran on Facebook named “Mike Zimmy“ says he was cleared after Raleigh Police Department’s Auto Theft Task Force executed a search warrant on his Dodge Charger, believing the vehicle was equipped with stolen parts — only to discover the car was legally rebuilt and properly titled.
According to paperwork Zimmy shared in the comments of his post, Raleigh police officers conducted surveillance on the man for months before executing a search warrant authorized by a Wake County magistrate on January 23, 2026. The warrant allowed officers to search and potentially seize a 2021 green Dodge Charger, which investigators suspected was a so-called “Frankenstein vehicle” — a term police use to describe cars allegedly built using stolen parts from higher trim models.
Why Police Targeted the Charger
In the sworn affidavit, a Raleigh Police master officer assigned to the Auto Theft Task Force stated he became suspicious after noticing the Charger had features typically associated with higher-end police or SRT/ Hellcat-style models, including:
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Police-style spotlight mounting
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Wide-body appearance
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SRT wheels and exhaust
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SRT-style interior and badging
Investigators claimed that, based on their training and experience, vehicle theft suspects often install higher-trim parts onto lower-trim vehicles using stolen components, while keeping the original VIN intact to avoid detection.
The warrant application alleged probable cause that the vehicle could contain stolen motor vehicle parts, altered serial numbers, or fraudulent paperwork.
What Police Were Authorized to Seize
The search warrant authorized officers to search for and seize stolen vehicle parts, forged or fraudulent vehicle documents, key fobs, programming tools, and electronic devices, computers, phones, SD cards, and storage devices, U.S. currency, and any evidence related to possession of stolen vehicles.
Criminal statutes listed in the warrant included possession of stolen motor vehicles, altering serial numbers, and felony possession of stolen property.
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Owner Says Vehicle Was 100% Legal
After the search, Zimmy said police ultimately found no stolen parts, and that every modification on the car was legally purchased, documented, and verified through the North Carolina DMV’s federal rebuilt inspection process.
He had all receipts for all parts — paperwork that had already been required to pass inspection and obtain a lawful title.
“They did all this just to find out I’m legit over here,” Zimmy wrote.
The paperwork included with the search warrant confirms the vehicle had already passed DMV scrutiny, which requires proof of lawful ownership for all major components on rebuilt vehicles.
