TANGIPAHOA PARISH, La. (WGNO) — One particular person has been arrested and three extra are needed following copper wire thefts that occurred in Tangipahoa Parish.

In accordance with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Workplace, 24 AT&T wire thefts have been reported within the space of Freeway 22 and Previous Covington Freeway starting Aug. 5, 2024, and spanning by Jan. 13.

On Sept. 11, 2024, throughout Hurricane Francine, detectives seen two males in a wooden line off of Freeway 22 close to Ponchatoula Excessive Faculty allegedly loading stolen copper right into a truck. When deputies tried to interact with them, they reportedly fled within the truck earlier than bailing from the automobile and escaping on foot.

53-year-old Stacy Warren Carpenter, of Ponchatoula, and 45-year-old Kevin Allen Stevens, of Hammond, have been each recognized as suspects in that case and two different copper theft circumstances.

Stevens’ residence, the place 52-year-old Sandie Albin, of Hammond, and 61-year-old Huey Edwards, of Hammond, additionally reside, was searched. Within the residence, deputies say they discovered over a dozen weapons, medication and proof of bulk copper wire thefts that have been in numerous levels of being damaged down.

Carpenter was later discovered and booked on Jan. 10. He faces the next expenses:

• Two counts of felony theft.
• Three counts of unlawful possession of stolen issues (felony.)
• Resisting an officer (flight on foot).
• Prison conspiracy to commit felony theft.
• A further cost of unlawful possession of stolen issues (felony.)

Stevens, Albi and Edwards stay needed.

Stevens is needed “for nearly two dozen expenses much like Carpenter, but in addition one rely of convicted felon in possession of a firearm, one rely of looting and one rely of communication interference.”

Albin is needed for one rely of prison conspiracy to commit felony theft and one rely of failure to seem. Edwards is needed for “related theft expenses,” but in addition on 13 counts of felon in possession of a firearm.

AT&T experiences that every particular person reduce of wire, not together with the price of every particular person theft, prices round $35,000. The thefts have been identified to disrupt cell and web companies for hundreds of residents.

Related crimes are being reported, and officers say extra arrests are anticipated as suspects are recognized. Fiber optic cables and wiring have additionally been stolen straight from properties.

Anybody with info on the theft of copper wire within the Ponchatoula, Hammond, Robert or Tickfaw/Natalbany areas is requested to contact Detective Nanni at 985-662-1532.

For areas together with Independence, Amite, Fluker, Kentwood, Village of Tangipahoa and Roseland areas, name Sergeant Foster at 985-634-7132.

Nameless ideas could be given by the Crime Stoppers of Tangipahoa tip line at 1-800-554-5245.

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