The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

by Roger S. Lucas

Two people were recently charged in Grant County Superior Court with first-degree theft for taking copper wire from an area near Grand Coulee Dam last June 18.

Charged were Victor W. Ford, a 44-year-old man from Lake Stevens and Michael R. Bruce, a 48-year-old Everett man.

Two people out for a walk told police they saw the two pulling copper cable up from the hillside and dumping it on the sidewalk at Riley Point. Bureau of Reclamation Plant Protection personnel followed the incident by security camera in broad daylight, about 2 p.m. in the afternoon, and called police.

The two had a green van, and when officers looked into the van they found multiple pieces of copper wire and cutters inside. The officers then saw the wire on the sidewalk.

The lead electrician at the Grand Coulee Dam Power Office said the wire that had been dragged up on the sidewalk was used to ground metal items. He had estimated the loss at around $15,000 to $20,000. Later he estimated the cable and labor costs fixing it would be substantially higher.

Ford, at the time, denied knowing the wire in the van was stolen and reportedly told the officer that the wire had been in the van since he started driving it.

Bruce denied cutting the wire, saying he picked up the wire after initially denying there was any wire in the van.

The two were arrested by Grand Coulee police with Coulee Dam police Chief Pat Collins assisting. The two were taken to Grant County Jail.

Two witnesses out for a walk said they saw Bruce, who is known as “Fisherman Mike,” throw heavy copper wire up on the sidewalk.

The van was confiscated, along with the braided copper wire inside and three sets of cutting tools.