Two Bee Spring men, with invaluable help from a witness, have been caught red-handed stealing copper wire from a Caneyville property.
The incident happened on Thursday at 11:15 a.m. when Grayson County Chief Deputy Sonny Poteet was alerted by Central Dispatch that a copper wire theft was in progress on Bowling Green Road (Hwy 185), near the intersection of Rabbit Flat Road.
A witness observed a Chevrolet Blazer, containing two men, dragging “several feet of large wire behind the vehicle,” according to the arrest citation. The witness called 911 and followed the vehicle.
According to the citation, the copper wire being dragged by the Blazer “caught on a concrete tile and became unhooked” from the SUV.
The witness continued following the vehicle, which “eventually stopped (as) the (witness) spoke to the men,” according to the citation. After that conversation ended, the witness called and described the suspects to Central Dispatch. The witness also gave Central Dispatch the license plate number of the vehicle, as the witness was no longer following the suspects.
The plate number came back to another vehicle owned by one of the suspects, 53-year-old Robert G. Saltsman. Poteet then met with the witness who positively “identified the driver of the Blazer from a photo of Robert Saltsman” provided by Poteet, the citation states.
Poteet contacted the Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office and Kentucky State Police and requested they check Saltsman’s residence on Oklahoma Road in Bee Spring for the white Blazer involved in the theft.
While a trooper was making his way to Saltsman’s Oklahoma Road address, he made contact with the white Blazer near Saltsman’s residence. The trooper detained the two suspects and notified Poteet.
The trooper also observed, in plain view, “pieces of large (copper) wire” in the Blazer.
Police arrested Saltsman and his passenger, 53-year-old Ezra B. Deering.
Saltsman and Deering were charged with theft by unlawful taking (over $10,000, less than $1 million). Deering was also charged with first-degree criminal mischief.
Both suspects were lodged in the Grayson County Detention Center.
In late February, the Leitchfield Police Department arrested a suspect accused of stealing 40,000 pounds of copper wire worth approximately $300,000. The wire, which had been stolen from North Carolina, was seized during a traffic stop on the Western Kentucky Parkway.
To read that full story, click here.
Suspect’s conviction history
According to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, Deering has convictions in Edmonson County for second- and third-degree burglary, two counts of theft by unlawful taking and persistent felony offender.
Saltman has convictions in Daviess County for theft by unlawful taking, possession of a controlled substance (drug unspecified), possession of marijuana and second-degree criminal trespass, according to the Kentucky Department of Corrections. He has also been convicted in Edmonson County for impersonating a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and menacing.
(Photo l-r: Robert G. Saltsman, Ezra B. Deering)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
