OPD arrests 1 in copper thefts
Published 6:17 pm Wednesday, December 5, 2012
An Elba man has been charged with first-degree receiving stolen property after more than $5,000 worth of wire disappeared from two locations of local building supply company.
The Opp Police Department received a complaint on Mon., Dec. 3, from the Opp location of Breedlove Ace Building Supply that a large amount of residential and commercial wiring had been stolen from their store.
Store management said there was no forced entry in the business, and that the wire was allegedly stolen from display shelves during regular business hours.
According to a press release from OPD Chief Mike McDonald investigators were able to locate a suspect, once the stolen wire was located at an Andalusia business.
Police located Johnny Kim Blackmon, 51, who was also in possession of other stolen property from Covington County.
Additionally, OPD officials recovered a large amount of the stolen wire on Dec. 3, and discovered another large amount of wire had been stolen from the Andalusia Breedlove store.
McDonald said that the investigation shows that the wire was taken from the stores between Nov. 26 and Dec. 3, and the value is $5,474.87.
Blackmon was arrested and charged with first-degree receiving stolen property and was taken to the Covington County Jail, where he was held on a $200,000 bond.
The Andalusia Police Department and the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Forced assisted in this case.