(Press Release) A Pensacola man is in jail this morning after a copper theft crime spree in the Ferry Pass area of Escambia County early this morning.
Deputies responded to the intersection of Atwood Dr. and Graves Rd. around 4:00
A.M. this morning to an armed disturbance. Once on scene, deputies say that a
citizen observed Michael Wade McConnell, pictured below, cutting ground wire
from a power pole. After the citizen observed McConnell do this, he followed
McConnell and confronted him. McConnell fled, and the citizen chased him to
2216 Dora St. The citizen then called the Sheriff’s Office.
During the investigation, deputies discovered that copper ground wires from 25
separate power poles had been cut and removed in the area. McConnell was in
possession of cutting tools and copper wiring.
McConnell was arrested and charged with 13 counts of Theft of Copper with
Interruption of Services (first degree felonies) and 13 counts of Criminal Mischief
(second degree misdemeanors). McConnell’s total bond was set at $663,000.00.
Additional charges are pending on the remaining 12 incidents.
