GARLAND, Texas — Three people were arrested for stealing about $10,000 worth of copper cable and leading police on a chase in Garland this week, police say.
Police responded to a report of people stealing copper and loading it into a U-Haul truck, blocking a lane of traffic, near Belt Line Road and Wagon Wheel Road at about 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Officers spotted one person loading copper cable into a U-Haul while another person walked away from the scene, police said.
The U-Haul fled the scene as police tried to detain the suspects and investigate and officers pursued, according to a news release.
After a brief chase, the U-Haul driver, identified as Izely Guadalupe Guerrero Rodriguez, 27, of Rockwall, was arrested, police say.
Officers found a second suspect, identified as Jerome Wayne Perkins, 41, of Louisiana, in a nearby convenience store, officials say. A third person, Richard Wayne Schultz, 37, was found Thursday in Dallas, police say.
“The investigation revealed that the suspects may have used a saw, recovered from the U-Haul, to cut the copper cable from a utility pole. Additionally, officers found narcotics in the possession of Guerrero and Perkins. Perkins was also found to be in possession of a firearm,” police said in a news release.
Rodriguez was arrested on complaints of evading arrest or detention, theft of copper, and possession of fentanyl, Perkins was arrested on complaints of evading arrest or detention, unlawfully carrying a weapon with a felony conviction, theft of copper, and possession of methamphetamine, and Schultz was arrested on complaints of evading arrest and theft of copper, officials say.
All three were booked into the Garland Detention Center. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
