Fairfax man charged with car theft and selling 20 vehicles to be recycled without a license

A Fairfax man was arrested Wednesday on charges that he drove a stolen truck to and from a vehicle recycling center, and sold more than 20 vehicles to a recycling center without being properly licensed.

  Buy Photo

Harry Lyle Meader III, 51, is charged with first degree theft, vehicle recycler license violation by selling, and three counts of driving while barred.

According to criminal complaints, Meader sold 20 vehicles to CC Recycling in Cedar Rapids between Jan. 28 and June 3. Under Iowa law, anyone who is not a licensed vehicle recycler can sell up to six used vehicles for recycling in a 12-month period.

Between May 14 and June 3, Meader was seen on video driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado while delivering scrap car bodies to the recycling center. The truck was stolen in December, and had since been repainted from silver to black, and the original tires had been replaced. There also was evidence the doors had been removed and replaced, the complaint states.

The truck was involved in a hit-and-run accident at 18th Street and Walford Road SW on June 3 and was left abandoned nearby. The complaint doesn’t state whether police believe Meader was driving the truck during the hit and run, but does state that there were items in the truck that belonged to Meader.

Meader had his first appearance in court on Thursday and is being held on cash-only bonds totaling $17,000.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com