HUMBLE, Texas – A Houston woman is demanding answers after the Splendora Police Department took her car for investigation as a stolen car.
Financial documents Emerita Diaz shared with KPRC 2 show that she financed a 2022 White Dodge Charger with her brother-in-law on October 29, 2024, at Robbins Chevrolet in Humble.
Diaz said there were no red flags when she was purchasing the car.
“We test drove. Everything seems nice about the car,” said Diaz.
Diaz and her boyfriend, Ansael Santana, said they’ve purchased two other cars from this dealership in the past without problems.
But last Sunday, Santana was pulled over by Splendora Police while driving the Charger.
“I saw both of the cops with their guns out, and then they’re like giving me orders to put my hands up the vehicle,” said Santana. “I was like, oh, well, I have nothing to hide. They told me the car is stolen.”
KPRC 2 reached out to the Splendora Police Department. A spokesperson told us:
“The vehicle in question was reported stolen out of Missouri. The officer was able to confirm this vehicle was the correct vehicle as the Vehicle Identification Number matched. I can not go into further details as this incident is being investigated by the Montgomery County Auto Theft Taskforce.”
Diaz and Santana said they had never been to Missouri and would not have bought the car if they had known it had been reported stolen.
A Carfax report shows the car did have origins in Missouri and was registered in Illinois before it was taken to auction last August. The report shows the car was put up for sale at Robbins Chevrolet the following month.
“I paid all this money just for them to say that is not my vehicle. So I don’t know what’s going on,” said Diaz.
Currently, Diaz continues to make payments on the car, even though she doesn’t have possession of it.
We reached out to Robbins Chevrolet, but didn’t hear back. So we went to speak with general manager Jim Stallings on Wednesday.
“They don’t have a stolen car. They don’t own the car,” said Stallings. “They didn’t finance or purchase anything.”
This is despite the motor vehicle sales contract listing Emerita Diaz as a co-buyer of the Charger.
We also ran the Charger’s VIN through the National Insurance Crime Bureau, but the car was not listed under their theft records.
KPRC 2 also reached out to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to see if the car was indeed reported stolen. A spokesperson said the DMV is looking into our inquiry and sent the following statement:
“Because there is a law enforcement investigation, questions about the case should be directed to the investigating agency. However, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) has administrative authority over licensed auto dealers. Consumers who have a problem with a dealer can file a complaint with TxDMV here: https://www.TxDMV.gov/complaints.”