JASPER COUNTY, Texas (KTRE) - Over the previous month, Sheriff Chuck Havard said, multiple Jasper-Newton Electric Company electrical substations have been targeted by copper thieves in Jasper County.
A lengthy investigation was started by Jasper County Sheriff’s Office into the thefts. Numerous items of evidence were collected including photographs, statements, and interviews which led to the discovery of numerous suspects involved in the thefts, Havard said.
The suspects appeared to have been operating a large-scale copper theft operation that has included electrical substations, as well as other businesses within Jasper County. The investigation revealed the suspects stealing copper, taking it to numerous residences, burning the protective covering off of it, and selling it to a local scrapyard, according to the sheriff. Two suspects have been selling large amounts of copper that was stolen by the group to the scrapyard over the previous weeks while using separate ID’s to reduce their involvement, according to Havard. He said it is believed that this was a coordinated operation of organized thefts.
Further interviews were conducted and three suspects have been positively identified and arrested.
They are:
- Dustin W. Ross, 41, of Jasper; arrested on December 16.
- Melissa Loudenslager, 34, of Jasper; arrested on December 16.
- Joseph D. Arnold, 62, of Jasper; arrested on December 15.
Still at large, according to Havard, is suspect Trey Dawn Price, 38, of Jasper.
Ross, Loudenslager, and Arnold have been arrested for the offense of engaging in organized criminal activity, a third degree felony.
Price remains at large with an active warrant for her arrest. If you have any information on her whereabouts, please immediately contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at (409)384-5417.
All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.