 |
Pair Charged In Copper Thefts From Bradley County Cell Towers
posted October 8, 2007
John D. Clifford |
Two
Anderson County men are being held in the Bradley County Jail charged
with stealing copper wire from two cellular tower installations.
They were arrested Friday by sheriff’s deputies who responded to
Goodwin Road to look for a vehicle that had been seen near the tower
installation.
John D. Clifford, 40, and Joshua Gregory McBee, 22, are each
facing charges they removed copper wire from the tower site and one
that is located in the southern area of the county.
During questioning at the Judicial Center the suspects provided
detectives with information about thefts from over a dozen towers
located in Knox, Monroe, Sevier, Anderson, and Loudon Counties. That
information is being given to law enforcement agencies in those
counties.
Sheriff Tim Gobble said the suspects were apprehended because a
citizen called in with suspicions that a vehicle at the tower site was
possibly involved in the theft of copper.
Sheriff Gobble said, “We are asking the public to report any
suspicious activity in and around cellular phone towers and other
utility installations. The theft of copper wire can disrupt critical
and vital communications and public safety networks.”
Clifford and McBee are each charged in Bradley County with
possession of burglary tools, two counts of felony vandalism over
$1,000, two counts of aggravated criminal trespass, and two counts of
theft under $500.
Joshua Gregory McBee |
|
 |
|
)
)
