The Perry County Sheriff’s Department has arrested seven people suspected of being part of a copper-stealing operation.
According to Perry County Investigator Edward Bolton, 560 feet of 200-pair copper wire were stolen from AT&T poles in Richton. The wire is worth approximately $3,000.
AT&T experienced service difficulties around 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. The following day, a crew surveyed the area around Central Baptist Church. They attempted to resolve the issue but were unable to discover it. On Wednesday, the personnel returned and discovered that the wire had been taken.
This is when AT&T contacted the Perry County Sheriff’s Department.
On Wednesday night, thieves stole copper from various locations, including Tubby Cooper Loop and Rube Rich Road.
On Thursday morning, a deputy noticed two individuals who appeared to be in a state of breakdown on the side of Highway 15. He pulled over to help, and while retrieving his jumper cables, the deputy noticed two tubs full of scorched copper wire, according to Bolton.
Kimberly Holifield and Troy Pool were arrested and charged with grand larceny and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Their interviews resulted in the arrest of four more people: Timothy Rhymes, Brittany Davis, Katlyn Bryce, and Kevin Langley. According to PCSD, Rhymes, Davis, and Bryce returned to the area to allegedly gather wire that had been left in the woods.
Perry County Sheriff’s Department called Jones County Sheriff’s Department, which obtained a search warrant for 30 Galvin Mills Road. Langley was located here. Jones County recovered stolen items at the address related to previous cases they had investigated.
This address is also where the Sheriff’s Department claims the Teflon was burnt off the wire.
The Jones County Sheriff’s Department detained William Phillip on Friday after receiving a tip from a nearby scrapyard. He was extradited to Perry County Jail.
All detainees are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
