NORTH VERNON, Ind. – The Jennings County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) responded to the South Eastern Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC) in Butlerville after a theft report last Monday, December 2.
Multiple construction contract companies said they had items stolen over Thanksgiving weekend. Deputies collected evidence and spoke with three companies that provided detailed lists and prices of tools and copper that had been stolen, totaling over $63,000.
Law enforcement also learned about another burglary in Decatur County the same weekend. It was quickly determined that the two crimes were connected.
Officers identified Ryan Beeman, 41, of North Vernon as a possible suspect and began looking for him. He was already wanted on a Decatur County felony theft warrant.
JCSO located the suspect at a residence and was granted two search warrants. Deputies found the stolen materials from Decatur County and SEPAC.
Shaun Webb, 38, of North Vernon, was also arrested during the execution of the search warrant when methamphetamine and drug-related items were allegedly located on his person.
The Sheriff’s Office says it learned that Beeman had 362 pounds of copper burned down at a local scrap yard two days after the theft. The businesses had paid over $10,000 for the stolen copper and the suspect sold it to the scrap yard for about $1,000.
Beeman was charged with Burglary (Level 5 Felony), Theft (Level 5 Felony), and the Decatur County warrant. Webb was booked for Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
Courtesy-Jennings Co Sheriff
Courtesy-Jennings Co Sheriff
