Two local men lands in Jail over copper theft

On Wednesday, Oct 21, the Apalachicola Police Department arrested two local men for stealing copper wire from the Progress Energy substation off Ellis Vanvleet in the Greater Apalachicola area.

At approximately 7:52AM the morning of Oct 21, Apalachicola Police Officer Timmy Davis responded to a call regarding the theft of copper from Progress Energy’s substation and maintenance yard. Upon Davis’ arrival, he interviewed a Progress Energy employee who informed the officer that approximately 800 feet of copper wire was missing from the yard.

The officer immediately started calling all salvage yards between Panama City and Dothan, Alabama to inform the junk dealers to be on the lookout for anyone attempting to sell a large quantity of copper wire.

At approximately 12:15PM that same day, Officer Davis received a call from Schnitzer Southeast, a salvage yard in Dothan. The metal dealer reported that a man with an Apalachicola address named Christopher Buzbee, along with another male named William Switzer were in Alabama attempting to sell the copper wire described in the earlier telephone call made by Davis.

Officer Davis then contacted the Dothan Police Department and asked the agency to detain the two suspects on suspicion of theft until local officers could make the trip to Dothan to expedite the suspects back to Franklin County.

Police Officer Anthony Croom, Jr., picked up Buzbee and Switzer both of Apalachicola, transported them back to town, and booked them into the Franklin County Jail. Both men are now facing charges of theft of copper wire, dealing in stolen property, grand theft of over $300 and burglary of a conveyance. The wire stolen was valued at approximately $3,000.

As of late, the theft of copper wire is on the rise. In some Florida communities, it's gotten so bad that contractors are waiting until the last possible moment before installing the wiring at construction sites.