Joseph Jackson, 51, and Carolyn Farris, 45, both of South Carolina, and John Smith, 45, of Virginia were arrested. Jackson was arrested on charges of second-degree burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia, while Farris was arrested for a misdemeanor count public intoxication and Smith was arrested for misdemeanor trespassing.
Muldrow Police Investigator Tim Keith said Muldrow police received a call at about 11:05 a.m. that two men were trying to steal an air conditioning unit from an old Texaco station on State Highway 64B. Keith said the suspects were actually stealing copper pipes and fittings.
Sequoyah County Sheriff's Deputy Lance Yoakum arrived on the scene and took Smith into custody. Farris was inside a car, and Jackson was on the roof.
Keith said when he arrived at the scene, Jackson was off the roof and was taken into custody. He said that Jackson took a nine-foot fall from the roof, but appeared to be OK. Farris allegedly appeared to be under the influence of narcotics, he said.
During a search of the suspects' vehicle, police uncovered a five-gallon bucket filled with copper pipes and fittings. Two crack cocaine pipes were also uncovered under the driver's seat of the vehicle.
Keith said that one of the suspects told police that they were passing through and had gotten lost and ran out of money. Keith speculated the trio were scavenging for copper to get gas money. A back door was open on the building.
Jackson was transported to the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw.
