ORANGE, Texas — Two men and a woman are being charged with a copper wire theft last month from the City of Orange's baseball fields worth about $10,000.
Justin Mark Drake, 41, Joshua Lee Hickman, 29 and Alexis Samantha Wilson, 30, are facing felony charges for theft of material under $20,000 according to a news release from the Orange Police Department.
Police say that in the early morning hours of Friday, April 15, 2022, the three stole copper wire from the City of Orange Baseball fields. Between the damage and the stolen copper wire the total loss at the fields was worth about $10,000 according to police.
According to Sergeant Nicolas Medina with the Orange Police Department, it's happening all around the county.
“Quite a few copper wire cases coming across the detective's division it's not just here it's everywhere but there has been an uproar for sure,” Medina said.
Detectives said tips from the community eventually led them to suspects.
“This investigation was definitely proof that our community, that people out there see things which has a huge impact on our caseload,” Medina said. “If they see it and report it to us or if they just give us a little to go on, it is vital to our investigations,” Medina said.
People in the community alerted city leaders. Luckily, the city's insurance covered all the repairs.
“It was something really devastating yet we know how to work it and we talked with the city manager and talked amongst ourselves and put the plan into action as soon as possible now it's fully restored,” said City of Orange Mayor Larry Spears Jr.
Spears said many people in the community offered to donate money to pay for the repairs. and he said he is proud the community came together to make sure these athletes could get back on the field.
“Things are changing in orange, things are getting brighter if we continue to work together, it's only the beginning,” Spears said.
The kids have a full-functioning baseball field. Night games are certainly an option. Now all that's left is to play ball.
Orange Police Department detectives have been following leads and talking to witnesses since the theft and recently got arrest warrants.
All three were arrested on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at their homes by the detectives with assistance from the West Orange Police Department the release said.
The three are being held on the state jail felony charges in the Orange County Jail where their bail has not yet been set.
Hickman is also facing a charge for theft of property worth from $150 - $750 according to jail records.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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