MARYSVILLE – After noticing a ski boat engine for sale over the Internet, King County Sheriff’s Office North Precinct detectives initiated an investigation April 20.

As a result of this investigation, King County and Snohomish County Auto Theft Task Force detectives posed as potential buyers of the engine and arranged to meet the seller at a Marysville area bank. When undercover detectives met the suspect, a 23-year-old male from Marysville, he attempted to sell them a stolen boat motor for $3,000. The boat motor came from a stolen boat that was valued at over $60,000

Parts from this boat had been recovered in the Marysville area prior to April 20. The suspect was arrested for Possession and Trafficking in Stolen Property. An additional suspect, a 26-year-old male also from Marysville, was arrested on outstanding misdemeanor warrants and is being investigated as a possible accomplice.

As a result of this arrest, SNOCAT and King County detectives served a search warrant in the 2600 block of 116th Street NE in unincorporated Marysville on April 21. During the search detectives recovered more parts from the stolen boat and additional stolen property including two stolen off road motorcycles, two stolen chain saws, one stolen rifle, a stolen U-Haul car dolly and a stolen John Deere “Gator” vehicle.

Another boat was also seized and detectives are investigating the possibility that it is also stolen property.

Investigators believe that this property is a chop shop. The investigation is continuing and additional criminal charges are likely.