Four people arrested involved in large copper theft in Tulsa

TULSA, Okla. — Tulsa Police Department arrested four people involved in a $20,000 copper theft, Friday, Nov. 4.

Officers with the Tulsa Police Gilcrease IMPACT Unit and Mingo Valley Street Crimes Unit served search warrants on two north Tulsa houses near Route 66 and Harvard.

Officers found one suspect, Brian Tash, loading burnt copper wire into the back of his Jeep in the driveway. This is not the first time Tash has been charged with crimes relating to copper theft. Tash and his girlfriend, Heather Walker, were previously arrested for the same reason.

Four people arrested involved in large copper theft

Jackie Scott and Connie Wearstler, the two other suspects arrested Friday, have a history involving scrapping copper. The back yard of their house seemed to be used as a scrap yard, officers said.

Police found hundreds of feet of plastic sheathing from AT&T utility lines, AT&T fiber optic cable lines and metal drums used to burn copper sheathing.

Police said AT&T representatives helped them determine what was stolen. The estimated value of stolen items is more than $20,000 and the cost of replacement is more than $100,000, officers said.

Tash and Walker were arrested for knowingly concealing stolen property and possession of stolen copper.

Scott and Wearstler were arrested for knowingly concealing stolen property.

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