Man Accused Of Illegally Dumping Motor Oil

SMITHFIELD – A 69-year-old man is accused of illegally dumping motor oil in a business parking lot.

Marco Aurelio Hernandez-Olguin of S. Sixth Street in Smithfield was arrested Monday afternoon and charged with littering hazardous waste, a felony.

Monday morning, an employee at Chavez Tire, at 819 S. Brightleaf Boulevard, discovered motor oil covering a large area of the parking lot.

Police reviewed video from a security camera at the business, which reportedly showed a man, later identified as Hernandez-Olguin, arrive on foot around 8:00 a.m. Sunday, with several containers of motor oil. He placed the containers on the ground and left.

Security cameras reportedly captured Hernandez-Olguin returning around 5:00 p.m. Sunday and pouring the motor oil from the containers onto the paved parking surface.

Police said the suspect has no connection to the business and is not believed to have ever been a customer there.

Police don’t know why Hernandez-Olguin illegally disposed of the motor oil, but said he works and lives nearby.

He was held under a $5,000 secured bond.

The incident was investigated by the Smithfield Police Department.

The Smithfield Fire Department and Johnston County Emergency Management worked to mitigate the spill.