Two men were taken into custody Thursday after being found with copper wiring, according to the Pine Bluff Police Department.
About 4 p.m., Pine Bluff Police officers went to 1711 S. Missouri St. in reference to a possible residential burglary.
While at the scene, witnesses told the officers that two men, later identified as 47-year-old Michael Cosgrove and 48-year-old Robert Cosgrove, left the scene before police arrived.
A short time later, police Lt. Jeremy Brown, who was working traffic, noticed a vehicle pulling into the parking lot of the Parkview Apartments at 300 W. 13th Ave. Brown said he walked up to the vehicle and noticed copper inside as the two men inside quickly exited and began to distance themselves from the vehicle.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Brown said that when Robert Cosgrove ignored his commands to surrender, Brown used a Taser on him to subdue him. Brown said he ordered Michael Cosgrove to the ground, and he immediately complied.
Brown then called paramedics to the scene to provide medical attention to Robert Cosgrove, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries due to his fall after being shocked with a Taser, police said
Both of the men were then transported to the Police Department’s detective office for further investigation.
Copper theft has become a significant issue in Pine Bluff due to the high resale value of the metal. The police said they are urging the community to report any suspicious activity to help prevent further incidents.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity is asked to call the detective office tip line at 870-730-2106, the detective office at 870-730-2090, or the dispatch center at 870-541-5300.