Man arrested for stealing $23,000 worth of tires in Aurora

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Mo. — A man has been arrested by the Aurora-Marionville Police Department (AMPD) following $23,000 worth of tires being stolen from a business in Aurora.

According to online court documents, Trancito Merida-Gutierrez, born 1994, has been charged with fraudulent use of a credit/debit device and stealing - $750 or more.

The probable cause statement says Merida-Gutierrez used stolen credit card information on Monday, July 28, and purchased 24 Goodyear tires from Jimmy Michel Motors in Aurora. The tires were worth over $10,000.

The motor business realized that the transaction was fraudulent after Merida-Gutierrez, who is an owner of a roofing company, sent an employee to pick up the tires.

AMPD found that Merida-Gutierrez had purchased eight Goodyear tires the week before the investigation.

The statement says Merida-Gutierrez placed another order of 32 Goodyear tires on Friday, August 1, through an online order, which totaled $13,000 through multiple attempts using two credit cards.

Merida-Gutierrez sent the same employee to pick up the tires, and they were arrested by AMPD officers. The employee told law enforcement during a post-Miranda interview that Merida-Gutierrez ordered them to pick up the tires and deliver them to his business in Pierce City.

Police obtained a search warrant for Merida-Gutierrez's property and found 31 brand-new Goodyear tires from a shop building.

Merida-Gutierrez later arrived on the property, and he was arrested on the scene. Merida-Gutierrez told police he had purchased the tires with cash on Facebook Marketplace. He told police later that he purchased the tires on WhatsApp, then later claimed the seller paid the motor business for the tires and was later reimbursed through Western Union.

Merida-Gutierrez is currently in the Lawrence County Jail with no bond. He is currently scheduled for a bond appearance hearing on Aug. 7, 2025.