LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Detectives with Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) arrested a 50-year-old man Tuesday morning following a wire theft investigation in Jefferson County, authorities said.
The arrest stems from reports of critical infrastructure wire that had been cut and removed in Louisville, prompting involvement from the city’s Critical Infrastructure Task Force, an initiative created by Mayor Craig Greenberg to address theft and vandalism threatening public safety and essential systems.
According to an arrest citation, detectives responded Sunday, Jan. 18, to Harrods Old Trace, where wire had been cut, stolen, and hidden for later retrieval. On Tuesday, Jan. 20, officers learned the wire had been moved closer to a suspect’s vehicle. When police arrived, the vehicle was unoccupied.
Shortly afterward, detectives spotted a man matching the suspect’s description walking nearby. The man told officers he was heading to a Kroger store to buy a phone charger, despite the store being a quarter-mile away and temperatures hovering around 14 degrees. Detectives observed his movements and concluded the evidence did not support his explanation.
After returning to his vehicle, the suspect drove away erratically and was stopped by police. Officers found two phone chargers in plain view, along with tools believed to have been used to cut the wire.
The suspect, identified as Noah Duke, was arrested and charged with attempted theft, trespassing on key infrastructure assets, reckless driving, and additional offenses related to wire theft. Duke is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 21.
