By HEATHER PYLES, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Tue, May 13 2008
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Two men were arrested last week after leading authorities through Pulaski and Wayne counties during an investigation of copper thefts from several cellular towers in the two counties.
According to a press release from the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, Bradley A. Tandy, 28, and Joey M. Judd, 27, both of Louisville, Ky., were arrested after they were connected with several incidents that took place Saturday in which copper grounding plates were stolen from transmitter buildings located near the cellular towers.
The investigation began when an alarm was activated on a cellular tower east of Somerset on Ky. 80 at approximately 5:47 p.m. Saturday. Authorities discovered that the locking mechanism on the tower gate had been cut and that copper grounding plates attached to the transmitter building had been stolen.
While authorities were still investigating the first incident, another alarm went off at a cellular tower on Old Keno Road at around 6:18 p.m.
Upon arriving at the scene, sheriff’s deputies and Burnside police officers found that the locks been compromised and the grounding plates had been stolen at that location as well.
A witness at the scene described a white panel style work van at the location.
Another alarm was also activated, this time at a cellular tower site in Wayne County.
A Wayne County sheriff’s deputy came across the van that had been described by the witness traveling on Ky. 90 toward Somerset while responding to the alarm at the tower in Wayne County and initiated a traffic stop just inside Pulaski County.
Tandy and Judd, who were operating the van, were arrested and a search revealed the stolen copper grounding plates, assorted tools and Hydrocodone pills.
Saturday’s incident is one of several among a string of copper thefts that have taken place in the area recently.
Whitaker said the rash of thefts isn’t expected to wane if scrap prices keep rising.
“The more scrap prices rise, the more of these incidents we’re going to see,” Whitaker said.
In Saturday’s incident, Tandy was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $300, possession of burglary tools, first-degree possession of a controlled substance, and operating a motor vehicle on a suspended license.
Judd was charged with theft by unlawful taking over $300.
Both men were lodged in the Pulaski County Detention Center.
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was assisted in the investigation by the Burnside Police Department, the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, and Constable Mike Wallace.
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