7am News, Sports and Obits
Latest WGIL news
Click to play or
Right click and "Save Target As" to download
Click for Galesburg, Illinois Forecast
Home - Cancellations - Community Events - Contact Us - Mornings - News - Obituaries - Pictures - Programs - Special Events Audio - Sports - Weather
Father and Son Accused of Stealing from BNSF
A father and son were arrested in the early morning hours by police after they allegedly were trying to steal copper wire along some train tracks.

That's according to a Galesburg Police report, which indicates 39-year-old Thomas Hartfield Jr. and 18-year-old Thomas Hartfield III are suspected of the crime in the one thousand block of Washington Avenue.

Police say a Burlington Northern Santa Fe maintenance worker witnessed the two allegedly cutting low hanging wires around 1:30am Wednesday morning. They say the worker shined a flashlight on both, causing them to flee without the estimated $1,000 dollars in copper wire in a pick-up truck.

The witness was able to obtain the vehicle's registration, and authorities traced it back to the Hartfield's. Police say during questioning, the son, Tommy Hartfield, changed his story three times. But, they say, he settled on telling authorities it was his idea to take the wires for profit.

According to police, the father, Thomas Hartfield, denied any wrongdoing and said he shouldn't be charged because the wire was still sitting at the dead end of Washington Avenue.

Both men are facing charges for theft, criminal damage of property, and criminal trespassing to land. Court appearances are pending.
03 15 12 by Newsroom
News management powered by Xpression News

Click here for the WGIL News Archive

Click here for national news

The following provision applies to all visitors (which shall include persons and representatives of legal entities, whether such representatives are persons or digital engines of a kind that crawls, indexes, scrapes, copies, stores or transmits digital content). By accessing this Web site or digital service, you specifically acknowledge and agree that: (i) Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium; (ii) No Associated Press materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use; (iii) The Associated Press will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing; (iv) The Associated Press is an intended third party beneficiary of these terms and conditions and it may exercise all rights and remedies available to it; and (v) The Associated Press reserves the right to audit possible unauthorized commercial use of AP materials or any portion thereof at any time.