PD: Men Stole $2,600 Lbs of Copper Worth $8,000 From Scrap Metal Yard

A Middlefield man 

On Dec. 5 at 2:02 a.m., Michael Flanagan, 34, of Hubbard Street, Middlefield, was seen by an officer driving on Route 157 with metal wire heavily weighing down the back of his truck, according to the report.

The officer say he knew there had been several thefts of copper wire and metal from scrap yards in Middletown in recent days. 

Flannigan began driving very fast, police say, to evade the cruiser and entered the Rockfall section of Middlefield and eventually his driveway, where his pickup was found parked on his front lawn. 

The report says Flannigan was slumped over in the passenger seat then ran away from the officer into the woods, refusing to stop, so the officer Tased him in the back. He then told police a passenger had fled the scene so a police canine track was used but was unsuccessful. 

The report says Flannigan confessed to stealing the metal from Hanks' Scrap Metal yard on Butternut Street on three occasions. The owner later told detectives of a break-in where three 55-gallon drums each weighing 250 to 500 pounds missing, along with a metal cart and a large quantity of copper wire, according to the report. 

The suspects, police say, stole 2,600 pounds of copper worth $7,800 and caused $1,400 worth of damage to a chain-link fence. 

Flannigan was charged with driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree criminal trespass, third-degree larceny, interfering with an officer and reckless endangerment.