Purcell Man Posing As OEC Worker Arrested In Copper Thefts

Cleveland County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Purcell man who authorities say posed as an Oklahoma Electric Cooperative worker and stole copper wiring from utility poles near Lexington.

Jason Wesley Beach, 38, was charged Thursday with three counts of entering to steal copper, and one count of possession of stolen copper.

According to the Sheriff's Office, on Monday, deputies received information about a man who went to a home in the 16000 block of 187th Street in Lexington, and claimed to be an OEC worker.

Deputies said the man, later identified as Beach, was unable to show any type of identification when a witness asked him for it. The witness then contacted OEC who confirmed Beach was not an employee.

Beach was then seen climbing two utility poles. Authorities said he cut wire the meter boxes and removed wire from the poles. However, he left before deputies arrived.

Deputies later located Beach who was wearing a climbing belt and leg spikes at the time. Authorities found large pieces of copper wiring and bolt cutters in his truck.

An OEC representative confirmed the wiring belonged to the company. Officials said copper wiring was recently removed from seven other OEC poles in the same area.

Beach confessed to cutting and removing wire from only two utility poles, according to the Sheriff's Office. He was booked into the F. DeWayne Beggs Detention Center.