Two men accused of stealing copper wire

OCALA – Two Alachua County men were arrested early Sunday and accused of breaking into an electric company and stealing copper wire.

Marion County sheriff’s deputies arrested Joshua Ray Sipe, 25, and James Kevin Smith, 39, after an early-shift worker at Sumter Electric Cooperative, 4872 S.W. 60th Ave., reported a burglary.

Sipe, who lives in Newberry, and Smith, of Micanopy were found driving down Southwest 60th Avenue in a Ford truck, according to the Sheriff’s Office report. Deputies found copper wire, leather gloves and bolt cutters in the truck, as well as several prescription drug pills, the report states.

Sipe and Smith were taken to the Marion County Jail and booked on charges of commercial burglary, grand theft and possessing burglary tools. Sipe also was charged with felony drug possession.