An Apopka man and his Montverde companion were arrested for theft after allegedly stealing copper wire from light poles on the Florida Turnpike.
Troopers received a call from a male victim that two men, later identified as 44-year-old Mikael David Williams and 45-year-old David Eugene Fryer, were trying to steal copper wire from a light pole near Florida Turnpike around 1:15 a.m. Sunday, according to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
The first trooper to arrive on scene stated Williams was in the driver’s seat of a Toyota Tacoma while Fryer was outside near the truck. The trooper stopped them from trying to access the hatch with copper wire inside, the report said.
While investigating near the light pole, the trooper found keys still atop the electrical hatch. The keys had a tool attached which could be used to access that type of electrical hatch. Williams stated the keys were his. Deputies with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and more troopers then got to the scene to assist, the report said.
The victim later advised that he was a superintendent of a company that installed light poles for the turnpike. He used a thermal imaging drone to survey the area for potential theft or illegal activity. He then witnessed two individuals on the turnpike near mile marker 277, the report said.
The complainant was able to record a video of Williams and Fryer walking from light pole to light pole trying to access the electrical hatches, which were in a posted construction site. The victim reported in the past that he suffered the loss of $30,000 worth of copper wire within the last few months. He had four open cases reference theft from a construction site in the same area, the report said.
The victim stated the area the two suspects were in was just south of the last reported theft. This particular section of wiring for the light pole was valued at $1,000. Tools were found in Williams’ Toyota Tacoma that could be used to facilitate the theft of copper wire, the report said.
Williams and Fryer were subsequently arrested and charged with grand theft from posted construction site. They were transported to Lake County Jail and released after posting their respective $2,500 bonds.