Three Illinois residents were arrested in connection to a burglary in Crittenden County over the weekend.
Crittenden County Sheriff’s Deputy Chuck Hoover reports he was following up on a request for extra patrol at the closed Rogers Group quarry on U.S. 60 East around 11:15 Sunday morning when he encountered three individuals actively burning copper in a remote section of the property. The deputy says after he detained the individuals, an investigation revealed that the trio had been cutting open large electrical transformers on the property and then burning the coating off the copper wires from inside the transformers. Deputy Hoover says a further investigation showed that the trio had damaged several buildings on the property in their attempts to gather more transformers, copper, bolts, and other items of value.
41-year old Richard Ward and his wife, 35-year old Jin “Christine” Ward, both of Goreville, Illinois, and 44-year old Gene Broadway Jr., of Benton, Illinois were taken into custody and charged with third-degree burglary, possession of burglary tools, third-degree criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking over $1,000 but less than $10,000, and first-degree criminal mischief. Deputy Hoover says Broadway was also charged with first-degree possession of a controlled substance – methamphetamine. All three were booked into the Crittenden County Jail.
According to Deputy Hoover, the sheriff’s office is continuing the investigation and additional charges are possible.
The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the rock quarry by the Mattoon Fire Department, Crittenden County Emergency Management, Constable Jason Hurley, and Cooper’s Recovery.
(Mugshots shot available for Jin “Christine” Ward and Gene Broadway Jr.)
