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Columbiana police urge theft suspect to surrender

COLUMBIANA – A man who allegedly helped 28-year-old Michael Nagel steal about $3,500 worth of heavy duty cable from one of the city’s electric substations is still on the loose.

Detective Wade Boley said Monday the department was able to confirm the man seen in the video surveillance is Jonathan Cook, 27, South West Street.

The theft was caught on camera between Oct. 7-10, and shows the men pulling the lines through the substation fence and cutting them into smaller pieces, likely to be sold to scrap dealers.

According to Boley, Nagel can be seen in the footage using a chainsaw and a handsaw to cut the copper lines on two different occasions.

Police installed two video cameras at the substation after receiving a tip on Oct. 4 of a planned theft.

On Oct. 10, Boley and police Chief Tim Gladis caught Nagel stealing and took him into custody following a foot chase that ended at a South Elm Street home.

He is currently in the county jail awaiting his Thursday appearance in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

Cook was not with Nagel then, and a warrant was issued for him the following day.

“We would encourage him to turn himself in,” Boley said.

He added anyone who has information about his whereabouts should notify the police department at 330-482-9292.

Online court records show Cook served time in the county jail for a prior theft and drug paraphernalia conviction in 2008.

That was the extent of his criminal history in the county, with other records showing charges for traffic violations in 2008 and 2010.

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