BRUCEVILLE-EDDY, Texas (KWTX) – A Bruceville-Eddy man was arrested Nov. 2 after breaking into the old KCEN News building to steal copper wiring, an arrest warrant alleges.

Kelley Earl Wood, 56, was charged with criminal mischief, burglary of a building and theft of copper and violation of probation.

According to the affidavit, the Bruceville-Eddy Police Department was first made aware of the break-ins on Sept. 23 after receiving a call from a contractor of the Bruceville-Eddy Travel Center about a break-in at the old train station. KCEN news located at 314 IH 35. Frontage Road.

An officer was dispatched to the building where the contractor walked the officer through the exterior and interior of the building on September 23rd.

According to the affidavit, exterior air conditioning units were damaged when someone removed copper materials from the car, exterior electrical panels had cut copper wiring, several ceiling tiles were damaged when the suspect gained access to ceiling to remove the copper cables. and interior electrical panels had been damaged with cut copper wires. The officer was also shown a sliding door that had been forced open and evidence that a vehicle had been driven inside the building.

According to the affidavit, the total damage to the building was estimated at approximately $100,000 and that the incident occurred sometime around Labor Day on September 2.

Bruceville-Eddy PD was contacted again on Oct. 16 by the same contractor who reported another break-in at the old KCEN News building. According to the affidavit, the contractor stated that a pair of bolt cutters were found at the scene, attached to wiring in an interior electrical box. The sliding door was also further damaged.

According to the affidavit, the game cameras were installed outside and inside the building on Oct. 16 with the permission of the contractor and building owner.

The last burglary would be recorded on October 30 when, at approximately 4 p.m., cameras captured two men arriving at the building on a red and white motorcycle, the affidavit continued. Officers recognized one of the suspects as Wood due to previous encounters with the man at his home. According to the affidavit, Wood was seen carrying a red drill.

Surveillance footage from the game cameras noted that Wood and the other suspect did not leave the building until approximately 6:32 p.m.

According to the affidavit, an officer walked through the building on Oct. 31 at approximately 4 p.m. and found cut pieces of copper and what were believed to be air conditioning components that contained copper tubing. The officer also found a red Milwaukee cordless drill in the building, similar to the drill Wood was seen wielding in the game camera footage.

After receiving a warrant from the building’s owner, officers were dispatched to Wood’s home in the 200 block of Grinder St. at approximately 5:26 p.m. to arrest Wood, the affidavit continues. Wood, at the time, was also found to have three previous convictions. At the time of his arrest, Woods was on parole with a scheduled release date of February 22, 2030, and was wearing an ankle monitor.

According to the affidavit, Wood was not at the home when police arrived, with a man identified as Raymond Terry, 36, saying Woods was working at a home located in the 110 block of Archie Lane. Officers were able to locate Wood and arrested him.

Upon further investigation, Terry is believed to be the other suspect who broke into the KCEN News building with Wood on Oct. 30 and was found to have outstanding warrants, according to the affidavit. Officers were dispatched back to the home on Grinder St. to arrest Terry, but he had left the home before they arrived.

Wood is currently being held at the McLennan County Jail with bonds totaling $340,000 on several of his charges. However, he will be held without bail on a parole violation.

Terry’s whereabouts are currently unknown, but the affidavit states that Terry is currently serving an eight-year probation sentence after four prior convictions for criminal mischief, evading arrest or detention in a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and property theft. over $30,000 and under $150,000.

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