Sumner squatters arrested for metal theft

Discover the likely reason why landline telephone service has been going down in outer East Portland neighborhoods of Wilkes, Parkrose, and Lents, over the past half year …

Rain doesn’t stop Portland Police Bureau East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team officers from investigating a ring of thieves who hack out sections of telephone wire to “harvest” the copper.

By David F. Ashton

Over the past six months, due to a sharp rise in copper thefts in outer East Portland, the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) officers have been investigating. These officers found that the thieves caused more than $2 million in damages.

The crooks weren’t stealing rolls of wire to resell them; they were hacking out sections of in-use telephone lines, NRT investigators found.

The stripped wire in the back hatch of this SUV was cut out of the telephone system. PPB image

And, this wasn’t at a single location. Both overhead and underground communication lines have been cut and removed at night:

In the Wilkes neighborhood near NE 162nd Avenue and San Rafael Street,
In the Parkrose neighborhood near NE 102nd Avenue and Fremont Street, and
In the Lents neighborhood near SE 111th Avenue and Foster Road.

In coordination with PPB East Precinct patrol officers and community members, the NRT officers identified a location in the 8600 block of NE Skidmore Street which appeared to be used for processing stolen copper.

Thieves burned off insulation in this barrel, so they can sell the bare copper wire they’ve stolen. PPB image

On Monday, November 3, Portland Police – in collaboration with the Special Emergency Reaction Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Police Dog K9 pairs, North Precinct NRT, and the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office – served a search warrant at that location.

A search of the property revealed extensive evidence of copper theft and metal processing, including burning off insulation stripped from copper telephone wires.

Because we’re prohibited by Oregon law from accessing booking photos, we can’t know which of the suspects is being arrested in this photo. PPB image

The following two people were arrested and transported to the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC):

Jeremy James Pruitt, 38, was arrested on November 3 and booked on charges of Theft in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Criminal Conspiracy (Theft in the First Degree), Metal Property Offense, and Unlawful Transportation of Metal. Pruitt is currently being held in the MCDC in lieu of $50,000 bail, on a charge Class C Felony charge of Theft in the First Degree.

Kimberly Julia Poehler, 39, Theft in the First Degree, Criminal Mischief in the First Degree, Criminal Conspiracy (Theft in the First Degree), Metal Property Offense, and Unlawful Transportation of Metal. Poehler was booked into the MCDC on November 6 and awaits arraignment on her charges – which includes Possession of Methamphetamine.

Cited, but not booked into the MCDC, was Justin Gilpatrick, 40, Metal Property Offense, Unlawful Transportation of Metal, and Criminal Conspiracy (Metal Property Offense).

The property where the warrant was served was subsequently evicted by MCSO Civil Deputies and returned to the estate of the rightful owner, because the occupants had been living there illegally.

The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges are pending. Anyone with information is asked to contact crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov and reference Case No. 25-244858.

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