A routine traffic stop by Aragon police led to a vehicle with an altered identification number, which police suspect could have been headed for the Summerville’s auto business.

According to reports, the incident happened Dec. 26. Reports state police stopped Ricky Eugene Barnette, 48, of 324 Robert Road, Cartersville, on Highway 101 North at Long Station because he didn’t have a tag on the black Toyota truck he was driving.

During the stop, a black Ford Mustang, driven by Daniel Redd, 30, of Springlake Trail, White, pulled up. Redd told officers he was following Barnette because he had sold him the truck and Barnette was having vehicle problems.

Barnette told police he had bought the truck the week before and his insurance on another car was covering the truck.

Police checked the bill of sale dated Dec. 21 and checked the vehicle identification number. Reports state the number belonged to a Toyota Corolla.

Redd told officers the Corolla had belonged to him. Officers then began to check the Mustang. Its identification number showed the car was not registered and no tag had been issued to it, reports said.

Redd was cited for affixing a tag with intent to misrepresent and removal of an identification number. He was not arrested.

Barnette was arrested for no insurance.

One the way to jail, officers said Barnette told him he was not taking the truck to his house, but Redd had told him to take it to a friend’s house. He had directions to a church near Burton’s Kwik Stop and said Redd was going to lead the rest of the way.

When questioned further by officers, Barnette told them the truck was going to the Summerville’s property.