TEXAS CITY, Texas — Two men are facing felony charges after allegedly stealing copper wiring from a Texas City emergency water facility, causing extensive damage that left the site temporarily inoperable, authorities said.
On October 15, Texas City police responded to reports of a burglary and theft at an emergency backup well site located in the 3900 block of FM 2004. Investigators discovered that thieves had stripped the facility of copper wiring and caused significant damage to its electrical systems.
Police later arrested David Knight Haney and Brent John Wentland on warrants for Theft of Property valued between $150,000 and $300,000 and Damaging a Critical Infrastructure Facility valued over $100,000.
Haney’s bond was set at $380,000, and Wentland’s at $370,000. Both men remained held in the Galveston County Jail as of Tuesday.
“It was a mess,” said Jack Haralson, Texas City’s director of Public Works. “Thieves damaged all the main wiring and pulled all of the copper from a utility pole and backup generator.”
Haralson added that while the emergency well site—which provides critical backup water services for the city—remained out of commission as of Tuesday, repairs are actively underway.
