ST PAUL, Minn. — Two people are facing criminal charges after authorities alleged they caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage to a tunnel in St. Paul and stole copper wires.
Joseph Montean and Hadi Marshall are both charged in Ramsey County with possession of burglary or theft tools and energy or telecom-damage or theft to line, insulator, wire, cable, or current of line or cable.
According to the criminal complaint, Xcel Energy workers were doing repairs on the tunnel below the Smith Avenue Bridge because someone had stolen copper from a live-feed wire, causing $75,000 - $100,000 in damage. When workers came back to the tunnel to continue repairs Tuesday morning, they found two people in the tunnel. They also found someone dug through the ceiling of the tunnel, where there was wire belonging to other service providers.
When officers found Montean and Marshall, the two told police they were medics searching for a missing woman but did not know her last name or have a description for her. The criminal complaint also said their backpacks had wire cutters, a saw with copper wedged in it, and special gloves to protect against high heat. Marshall denied taking copper from the tunnel.
Marshall and Montean make first court appearances Thursday.
