(The following story by Bob Link appeared on the Globe Gazette website on June 12.)
MASON CITY, Iowa — A 41-year-old Mason City man was arrested for allegedly taking copper wire from the Union Pacific Railroad, which in some cases caused crossing signals to malfunction, officials said.
Michael James Young was arrested Monday after someone reported him walking with wire. He was charged with fifth-degree theft and first-degree criminal mischief.
According to Lt. Ron Vande Weerd of the Mason City Police Department, the Union Pacific has been experiencing thefts of small amounts of copper wire. Someone had been pulling down wires from the poles alongside the tracks, at times causing interruption with train signals.
Tampering with a service rendered to the public is a Class C felony under the criminal mischief code. It is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Young was taken to the Cerro Gordon County Jail.