A 47-year-old man who claimed he was fixing bridge lights for the city was arrested Saturday after a Seattle police officer on proactive patrol spotted him rolling up what looked a lot like wire along the westbound shoulder of the West Seattle Bridge. Officers said they found several spools of copper and a stash of hand tools as they detained the man, who insisted he worked for the city and was dealing with a lighting "snag." He was booked into King County Jail on suspicion of criminal impersonation, theft, malicious mischief and carrying a dangerous weapon, according to police.
Tools, Drugs and the Arrest
According to the Seattle Police Department, the officer, who was on proactive DUI patrol, noticed the man rolling up wire on the bridge deck and pulled over to check things out. Police say they recovered heavy‑duty wire cutters, a flashlight, a screwdriver and other hand tools, along with multiple spools of copper. They also reported finding methamphetamine and an illegal fixed‑blade throwing knife on the suspect.
Claims and City Light Response
The man allegedly told officers he "had worked for the city for about two months" and that he was repairing bridge lights because of a "snag," the Seattle Police Department wrote. Seattle City Light told officers it had no crews scheduled or working on the bridge that morning, according to the department’s post.
Why Copper Thefts Matter
The arrest lands in the middle of a months‑long spike in copper thefts that have cut power to light‑rail lines, left streetlights dark and pushed public agencies to install cameras and other security measures. Local coverage has tied those wire thefts to multiple service disruptions and follow‑up policy proposals, as reported by FOX13 Seattle.
Charges and Legal Context
Police logged the case under incident number 2026‑185489 and say the man was booked for investigation of criminal impersonation, theft and malicious mischief, along with weapons-related allegations. Under Washington law, criminal impersonation can be treated as a serious offense; see RCW 9A.60.040. Rules on dangerous weapons and associated penalties are detailed in Chapter RCW 9.41.
Anyone with information or video related to the incident is asked to contact Seattle police and reference incident number 2026‑185489. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges after reviewing the full investigation and evidence.
