Two volunteer firefighters from the Ridgeville Volunteer Fire Department, in Dorchester County, South Carolina, have been arrested in Orangeburg County in connection with the theft of nearly $40,000 worth of copper wire.
Firefighters Jeffrey McQueen Riley, Jr., 21, and Johnathon Ryan Carter, 24, along with 17 year old Daniel Addison Carter, 17, allegedly used the Ridgeville Fire Department’s bolt cutters to break through security fences to access the wire at three electric company locations. All three men have been charged with grand larceny and criminal conspiracy.
As the news clip explains, alert citizens led to the trio’s arrest. Based on tips called into police, a patrol car spotted Riley’s vehicle leaving the scene of a theft. The trio promptly abandoned the vehicle and made their escape on foot. Riley then attempted to report his vehicle stolen. He was also charged with making a false police report.
Riley and Johnathon Carter have been dismissed from the fire department.