According to the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, three men were taken into custody on Dec. 16 in the early morning after allegedly robbing a local business of wire copper. Each man faces a second- and fourth-degree burglary charge along with two counts of theft between $1,000 and $10,000.
According to police, officers noticed a suspicious vehicle at around 1 a.m. in the area of Rt. 80 and Bennett Creek Avenue. They claim that the vehicle drew their attention because it was weighed down and its rear plate was covered with duct tape. After the car went down Fingerboard Road, its three occupants are reported to have fled on foot. When officers got to the vehicle, they claim to have discovered copper wire and spools in the back seat. It was later determined that the materials had been taken from a contractor on Bennett Creek Blvd. When officers went to the location, they found that the gate had been damaged.
Two of the men involved were found with the assistance of the Maryland State Police Aviation and a Sheriff’s Office K9 unit, and the third man was later observed in the parking lot of a local restaurant. He was seen getting into a vehicle and heading towards I-270, and an officer pulled him over and took him into custody. The men were taken to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center.
While there is circumstantial evidence that links the men to the copper theft, it is still up to law enforcement to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that these men committed the crime. Additionally, if evidence was gathered in an unlawful manner, it may not be admissible in court. A criminal defense attorney may be able to build a defense for these men and ensure that their rights were not violated.
Source: Your4State, “Three Men Arrested in Copper Theft”, Ciara Brown , December 17, 2013