Two men were arrested in connection to a copper wire theft near Interstate 65 and Interstate 265 Sept. 27, according to a Facebook post from Louisville Metro Police.
Daniel Bentley, 43, and Robert Kelly, 54, were charged with first-degree criminal mischief while tampering with key infrastructure assets and trespassing of key infrastructure assets, according to court records. Bentley and Kelly are being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections, each with a $2,500 bond.
Officers responded to a report of a theft in progress near I-65 and I-265 on Sept. 27, LMPD officials said. Upon arrival, officers conducted a sweep of the area and found two individuals “actively stripping and burning the infrastructure wire in an attempt to obscure its identity.”
Bentley and Kelly reportedly admitted to police they had taken the wire from the interstate guard rail with the intent to scrap it for profit.
“This swift response and coordinated effort by our officers prevented further loss and damage to critical infrastructure,” officials said. “We remain committed to protecting public property and holding those accountable who seek to exploit it.”
Bentley and Kelly are scheduled to appear in court Sept. 29 for an arraignment hearing.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 2 arrested in Louisville after copper wire theft near I-65, I-265