A Walnut Grove man, Andrew Lee Wilson, 38, has been arrested after allegedly stealing copper and fiber optic wire, causing significant damage to communication services and repair costs totaling $10,000.
According to online court documents, on March 25, a Windstream employee reported the theft of approximately 150 feet of wire near Highway 215 and Grant Road. The intentional cut to the wire led to costly repairs and service disruptions, including issues with 911 emergency communication services.
A break in the case occurred on March 29 when a resident reported seeing an individual attempting to pull down a telephone pole using a log chain attached to a van. A license plate check connected the van to Wilson, who was previously arrested in August 2024 for similar wire theft with the same vehicle.
On April 1, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office served a warrant at Wilson’s home and discovered a pile of fiber optic cable and additional evidence linking him to the theft. Windstream confirmed that the damage caused significant service outages, including disruptions to 911 communications.
Wilson is currently being held in the Polk County Jail on a $2,500 bond, facing charges of stealing and first-degree property damage.
