Two East Hampton Men Arrested

East Hampton Police arrested two local men on Tuesday for stealing copper ground wire from utility poles on North Main Street and Clark Hill Road.

Michael Poe, 36, and Troy McIntosh, 28. both of East Hampton, were charged with Larceny 3rd Degree, Conspiracy to Commit Larceny 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief 2nd Degree, and Reckless Endangerment 2nd Degree. They were both held on $10,000.00 bonds pending arraignment at Superior Court in Middletown on Tuesday.

The arrests resulted from Officer Adam Brault and Officer Hardie Burgin investigating a citizens complaint of suspicious activity at about 4:20 a.m. Aug. 9. The officers discovered that Poe and McIntosh had discarded a pair of wire cutters, a forehead mounted spot light and about 20 pounds of copper ground wire nearby where the officers encountered them.

The theft of copper has become common due to its increasing value. The theft of copper ground wire from utility poles poses a direct hazard to people and buildings that are in the area because the absence of the ground wire creates the risk of explosion and fire.

This case represents a clear example of a citizen reporting his suspicion and that suspicion being found valid during the ensuing investigation. EHPD thanks its citizens for their vigilance in matters such as this and encourages citizens to immediately report suspicions to the police.

This is not the only incident of copper wire being stolen in the area.

State Police, Troop F is investigating a commercial burglary that was reported to have taken place during the early morning hours of Saturday, July 30th at a business located on Bridge Street in Haddam. Unknown person(s) were able to gain entry by figuring out the combination to a lock on the front door.

A large spool of copper flat wire and eight small spools of stranded copper wire were taken. A silver Ford Ranger pick-up truck has been identified as a possible suspect vehicle.