Five men were arrested in Cabazon Saturday on suspicion of stealing copper wire, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the 14000 block of Elm Street just before 5 a.m. Saturday to a report of suspects stealing copper, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
Upon arrival, deputies allegedly located the suspects leaving the scene in a vehicle. They conducted a traffic stop south of Railroad Avenue and five suspects were taken into custody. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies allegedly found a large quantity of cut copper wire along with additional items linking the suspects to the theft.
They also found fentanyl and methamphetamine during the vehicle search, according to the department.
The suspects were identified as 59-year-old Richard Clyde Stone of Yucca Valley, 40-year-old Chad Russell Kingren of Yucca Valley, 44-year-old Gavin Wesley Nuce of Yucca Valley, 40-year-old Kelly James Smith of Cathedral City and 42-year-old Mitchell Phillip Brethen of Yucca Valley.
Stone was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy, drug charges and drug possession; Kingren on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy; Nuce on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy and drug charges; Smith on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy and drug charges; and Brethen on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy and drug charges, according to the sheriff’s department.
All five were booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility.
Anyone with additional information about the case was encouraged to contact Deputy Asendorf at 951-922-7100.