BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Bowling Green Police Department said officers recovered the eight Corvettes that were stolen from the city's General Motors Plant.

“They were all 2025," said Ronnie Ward, BGPD public information officer. 

Police said they arrested 21-year-old Deantae Walker. He and at least seven others trespassed on the property. 

“We know they cut the fence and drove the cars off the lot through there," Ward said. 

Police said three of those cars were taken to a nearby Lowe’s. That’s where Walker and another suspect had allegedly called a local transportation company to come pick up the cars and drive them hours away.

Bowling Green Police arrested Deantae Walker, 21, in connection to stealing eight Corvettes from the General Motors Plant in Bowling Green. All eight cars were recovered, officers said. (Bowling Green Police Department)

“He said he was contracted to take the cars to Detroit, but the people there didn’t really have a good story," Ward said. "They were trying to hurry him up, like, ‘We need to go. We need to go.’”

The driver of the transportation company called law enforcement because of the odd request.

“It’s 11:30 at night; these cars look brand new," Ward said. "Some of them have damages on them. This doesn’t make any sense.”

Once law enforcement arrived at Lowe’s, police said they were able to chase down Walker. BGPD said in its arrest report there was a confrontation between the officer and Walker, and bystanders jumped in to help. The other suspect fled in a Jeep with Ohio license plates. 

The plan was likely pre-meditated, said Brett Hightower, Warren County sheriff. 

“Obviously, they didn’t have a great plan because they didn’t make it very far," Hightower said. 

The cars were brought back to the GM plant, police said, adding they were valued at $1.2 million. Investigators added some cars were found at apartment complexes within the city and they believe the suspects had plans to sell them in Detroit. 

Police said while Walker was in custody, he said, "If I would have made it back to Michigan, I would've been paid big." 

“Those cars are worth about $1.2 million in total," Ward said. 

BGPD said they're now searching for additional suspects and the vehicle identification numbers for the three cars at the scene match the VINs of three of the stolen cars. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.