What started as a call about a suspicious vehicle in a Cherokee County park turned into a pre-dawn copper theft bust Friday morning, after deputies say they found a minivan shoved up against a fence in the woods and a pile of freshly cut wiring close by. Officials detained three adults at the scene and recovered cable that deputies say included both copper and fiber-optic lines.
Scene at Nelson Park
Deputies were dispatched just before 6:30 a.m. to the area of Kennesaw and School streets in Nelson Park, where they say they found the minivan tucked into the trees and a heap of stripped wiring nearby. Investigators believe the suspects had cut and pulled both copper and fiber-optic cables from the roadway that runs alongside the park, leaving behind an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 in damage and repair costs, as reported by The Georgia Sun.
Not the first time
Copper thieves have been a recurring headache around the Atlanta suburbs, repeatedly targeting utilities and infrastructure and at times knocking out service and racking up hefty repair bills. In June 2024, deputies arrested a man after discovering a large stash of copper wiring hidden near a Cherokee County power substation, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. County officials have also flagged aging copper lines as a weak point for certain critical services, according to Cherokee County communications.
Arrests, charges and how they were caught
The three people arrested in the Nelson Park case were identified by deputies as 36-year-old Michael Anthony McKay of Atlanta, 38-year-old P’ele Levert Evans of Canton, and 27-year-old Shavari Ja’nae Lee Andrew Williams of Garden City. McKay faces charges that include cocaine possession along with theft and vandalism of public utility equipment and is being held without bond. Evans is charged with theft and interference with public utility equipment and is also being held without bond. Williams faces theft and damage to public utility equipment and is being held on a $16,375 bond.
Deputies say that when suspects bolted into the woods, they locked down the area with a perimeter. A K-9 named Vader tracked down one of the suspects, while a neighbor’s 911 call helped lead deputies to a third person. Investigators say the case remains open as they continue to sort through the details, as reported by The Georgia Sun.
What authorities want
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. The agency’s website lists a tip line and the main contact number at (678) 493-4200. The sheriff’s office also posts inmate lists and records online, including booking information and bond details, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office.
