Scott City man charged with five felonies for theft of car, copper

A man suspected of using a stolen car to steal $1,000 in copper materials from a utility company in Cape Girardeau was charged Thursday with five felonies for the thefts.

Police responded to a burglary call at AmerenUE, 1715 Independence St., at 3:15 a.m., according to police spokesman Jason Selzer.

An employee told the responding officers the thief likely broke in through a door to the building between 1:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m., Selzer said. The suspect stole three rolls of copper wire and an unspecified amount of copper wire cable, all of which were worth more than $1,000, he said.

While investigating the scene, an officer saw a vehicle parked outside the building's security fence near where the break-in occurred. The officer approached the driver of the car to question him, but the man stepped out and said, "OK, you got me," according to Selzer.

As the man walked away from the car, the officer saw the stolen goods filling up the front passenger seat and ordered the man to stop.

When the man did not comply and began to run away, the officer used his Taser to stop the suspect, Selzer said.

Adam J. Crigger, 28, of Scott City, was charged with second-degree burglary, stealing, property damage, resisting arrest and stealing a motor vehicle.

The 1991 green Honda Accord Crigger and the stolen copper were in had been stolen from 110 Green Acres Drive less than two hours earlier, according to Selzer.

Crigger, who had bond set at $50,000, has previously been convicted of felony leaving the scene of an accident.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127