LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) — Three men from Lauderdale County were arrested Thursday in connection with a copper theft at an abandoned industrial site in Lawrence County.
The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office received a tip around 9:30 a.m. that thieves were attempting to steal copper from the old International Paper site. Deputies quickly responded to the location and launched a drone to track down the suspects.
The suspects, later identified as Rodney Carmichael (34), Edwin Schmidt (53), and Christopher Riggs (44), were spotted trying to flee the scene in a boat along the shoreline of the Tennessee River. As the authorities moved in, the boat began taking on water, causing the stolen copper to be lost overboard into the river.
Despite the setback, deputies were able to apprehend the suspects. Sheriff Max Sanders expressed gratitude for the tip-off from the public and the teamwork from law enforcement agencies that helped bring the theft to a halt.
“These officers worked hard to stop this, but we needed that tip from the public,” Sanders said. “With the manpower we have, we can’t always keep someone out there 24 hours a day. Thanks to the quick response, we were able to catch them.”
While authorities have not confirmed how much copper was stolen, it is believed that the suspects were likely attempting to sell the material after melting it down. Authorities also indicated that the copper thefts had been ongoing for at least a month.
The Morgan County Rescue Squad and Lawrence County Swift Water Rescue Team were called to help recover the lost copper from the Tennessee River.
The three suspects were charged with first-degree theft of property, first-degree criminal mischief, and criminal trespassing. Additional charges are still pending as the investigation continues.
