Shawnee County Sheriff
Emergency Notification
Internal Resources
Documents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Release ID #
Contact: Lt. Jay Simecka • 785.368.2217
September 11, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE # 120911 Copper Thieves Arrested
CONTACT: Sheriff Herman T. Jones (785) 368-2200
Shawnee County Sheriff Deputies responded to Mid-states Materials LLC, 2 North 1700 Road Lecompton, KS just before 8:30 am on Monday morning in reference to criminal damage and theft reported on the business property. The business is located near SE 45th St. and SE Woodring Rd., the business’s property is in both Shawnee and Douglas counties. The perpetrators entered the property and cut an estimated 1,000 feet of copper wiring between a generator and the plant, as well as, wiring from the plant structure itself. Estimated damage and loss is believed to be approximately $30,000.
A Mid-States employee notified salvage yards in the Topeka area of the incident and warned that the perpetrators may be attempting to sell copper wiring stolen from the business. The Sheriff’s Office, acting on a tip from the salvage yard, notified the Topeka Police Department that four men were attempting to sell copper wire at Advantage Metals, 1628 NW Gordon. Topeka Police Officers and Sheriff Deputies arrested four men at Advantage Metals in connection with the copper theft and criminal damage, after the four men attempted to sell the copper wiring.
John D. Smith, 31, of Topeka, Frankie Lee Graham, Jr., 31, of Topeka, Tyler Andrew Bodenhamer, 19, of Topeka and Shawn Michael William, 19, of Topeka were transported to the law enforcement center and interviewed by investigators, then were booked into the Shawnee County Jail at 2:30 p.m.
Each of the men was booked in connection with one felony count of theft and criminal damage to property. Williams, Graham and Smith also were booked in connection with one misdemeanor count each of criminal trespassing.
Let’s make Topeka the Safest Capital City in America.
— XXX —