Three Men Arrested Charged With Copper Theft In Lawrence County

On the same day around 9:30 am LCSO received a call that the copper thieves were out at the old international Paper plant site stealing copper. Deputies responded to the scene and launched a drone. The thieves were spotted on the shoreline of international Paper and the Tennessee River.

Deputies moved in and were able to take the copper thieves into custody. Upon further investigation it was determined that the thieves, while attempting to get away in a boat, began to take on water.

The copper was lost overboard in the Tennessee River. At the time of this report the Morgan County Rescue Squad and the Lawrence County Swift Water Rescue team are attempting to recover some of the copper.

The thieves launched their boat from the boat ramp on the Lawrence County side at the Joe Wheeler Cabins boat ramp on the high side of the dam.

Rodney Roy Carmichael age 34 of Lauderdale County

Edwin Carl Schmidt age 53 of Lauderdale County

Christopher David Riggs age 44 of Lauderdale County

All persons are charged with Theft of Property 1st degree, Criminal mischief 1st degree and criminal trespassing, other charges are pending.

All persons arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Sanders would like to thank the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, Rogersville Police Department and the Morgan County Rescue Squad for their assistance in this investigation and arrest.