Alleged copper wire thief is nabbed
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, May 8th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BOARDMAN – Jesus Alejandro Cardenas Garcia, 45, was arrested Monday by the Boardman Police Department for allegedly stealing copper wire from Union Pacific.
Morrow County District Attorney Justin Nelson arraigned the suspect on first-degree theft and first-degree criminal trespass in Morrow County Circuit Court Monday. He also notified the court that the state will seek enhancement facts in the theft. A probable cause hearing is scheduled for May 23.
Officer Jason Navarro responded to a call from a Union Pacific employee that people in an older mini-van stole copper wire from the worksite in Boardman near Ullman Boulevard on the railroad tracks. The employee didn’t get a photo of the suspects, but did take a picture of the van. The officer confirmed it belonged to the suspect.
Police Chief Rick Stokoe saw the van at a laundromat and notified his officer. He initially told the officer that he did go by the railroad tracks but did not steal any wire and no one else had used his van that day. Court records indicate the suspect gave the officer verbal permission to search his vehicle. Remnants of the wire were found in the van as well as a cooler half full of more wire. The suspect told Navarro that he got the wire from previous jobs.
