October 27, 2015

The Waynesboro Police Department arrested a Waynesboro man over the weekend for attempting to steal copper from city business. The assailant, Charles William Reed, Jr., was convicted in October 2014 of two felonies and four misdemeanors in Waynesboro Circuit Court for his part in a copper theft ring that stole over $20,000 of copper from Buckingham Branch Railroad in spring 2014. Reed, 50 years old, faces three felonies and one misdemeanor charge from Sunday’s arrest.

On October 25, 2015 at approximately 5:40 PM, officers responded to Development Company of America, 2000 South Delphine Avenue, for a report of a burglary in progress. When officers arrived they found Reed behind a warehouse attempting to steal copper from an air conditioning unit. Officers detained Reed who admitted to ripping apart the HVAC units to take the copper from them. He told officers he needed the money because he was homeless yet officers found methamphetamine and several burglary tools in his vehicle.

Reed faces the following charges:

• Petit Larceny/3rd or subsequent offense (f)
• Possession of Burglarious Tools (f)
• Possession of Methamphetamine (f)
• Trespassing (m)

Reed is being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail.