Sweet Home Police arrested a suspect in an ongoing investigation of metal and wire thefts in the Sweet Home area Saturday.
Police arrested and charged Jimmie Ginn, 45, with first-degree theft, first-degree burglary, second-degree criminal trespass and first-degree criminal mischief at 2 a.m. at 2210 Tamarack St., the former Willamette Industries Sweet Home Mill site.
“Ginn has been one of the subjects that are a focal point in an ongong Sweet Home Police Department investigation of metal and wire thefts throughout the area,” Police Chief Bob Burford said. “Ginn had been contacted by police in January and found with freshly cut wire. Sweet Home detectives were able to uncover records where Ginn had been selling suspected stolen metal and wire over an extended period of time.
“The only thing the detectives didn’t know was the location where the metals were coming from. They were eventually able to match up samples of wire possessed and sold by Ginn to the mill site located at 2210 Tamarack St.”
Detectives Cyndi Pichardo and Jeff Lynn were able to determine where thieves were entering and working in a building at the mill, Burford said. The site was placed under observation by the detectives and patrol officers, Burford said.
“On Saturday night, Sgt. George Dominy and Office Carolyn Dimick were on foot in the mill complex when they discovered a burglary in progress,” Burford said. They waited outside the building where Ginn was allegedly taking wire. He exited the building with a bundle of copper wire and a backpack, and the police officers arrested Ginn.
Police are continuing an investigation of other suspects in the Sweet Home area, Lynn said, and police are working with the district attorney on additional pending charges against Ginn.