Man accused of stealing copper wire from church a/c unit
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man is in jail after police say he stole copper wire from a church air conditioning unit last week in Frayser and then tried to sell it.
Eugene Long, 25, is charged with theft of property $10,000-$60,000 and vandalism $10,000-$60,000.
According to Memphis Police, on April 5, officers responded to a theft/scrap metal call at the Word of Life Church at 1215 Floyd Avenue. The church’s deacon stated an unknown suspect damaged the church’s a/c unit and stole copper wiring from it.
Memphis police officer and suspect dead after shootout; multiple officers injured
The repair of the a/c unit and the copper wire would cost $20,000.
The deacon also had video footage of the incident, showing the suspect driving a white Chevrolet Suburban. MPD says during the investigation, the tag was found registered to “Lauren Fincher.”
A “BOLO” alert was then issued, and investigators notified all Scrap businesses in the area to look out for the vehicle.
On April 11, a pawn/scrap investigator received a call from Worley Brothers Scrap Yard in North Memphis. The employee stated that the vehicle from the “BOLO” alert was at the business, and a man and woman were there trying to sell copper wire in exchange for scrap.
Officers arrived on the scene and said they saw a man, later identified as Long, sitting in the passenger seat of the white Chevy Suburban. A woman, later identified as Lauren Fincher, was inside the business conducting a transaction.
The cashier told police that Fincher was doing the transaction because Long had no identification.
Suspect dead after shootout with police had been arrested, released in March, records show
MPD says both suspects were taken into custody at that time.
Long gave a statement to investigators admitting to tearing the a/c unit apart, stealing the copper wire, and selling it to Worley Brothers Scrap.
He is being held in jail on a $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday morning.
At this time, it is unknown whether or not Lauren Fincher was charged.
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