CARROLL COUNTY, Miss.–A copper theft ring in the lower Delta has been busted, said Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker. But, the arrest of two men from Greenville is likely not the end of it.
Mikel Welch, 44, and Jonathan Laws, 37, both of Greenville, were arrested on Hwy. 82, near Valley Hill, said the sheriff. He did not go into detail about how or why the men were arrested or specific circumstances surrounding their arrest. Both men are being held at the Carroll-Montgomery Regional jail.
“We continue to investigate copper thefts in our county. We are actively working with other jurisdictions and corporations to stop them,” said Walker, in a prepared statement.
These arrests are part of a major theft ring that operates throughout the delta. Copper theft affects infrastructure and disrupts business. The costs are then passed along to consumers. We will continue to investigate and arrest the thieves that commit these crimes. More arrests are expected,”