Posted on 12/23/2009 4:11:00 PM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
Inside a secured room at the Eagan Police headquarters is the charred and shredded evidence of a near fatal crime. There's not much left of a winter jacket, worn by a 33-year-old St. Paul man.
The alleged copper thief was burned by 69,000 volts of electricity, creating a flash of light in the early morning sky.
"There were also calls of a large flash of light seen from several miles away and a large boom," Eagan Officer Danielle Anselment said.
Police and paramedics responded to several 911 calls of a man who was on fire at the Dakota Electric power substation located in the 1700 block of Deerwood Drive at around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Investigators said David Stachowiak, climbed onto a high-voltage power transformer, after cutting through the sub station's barbed wire topped chain link fence.
Evidence taken from the scene indicates that Stachowiak and possibly two other people were there to steal copper cable.
What doesn't make much sense is the motivation behind the crime. The recession has dropped scrap copper prices substantially. Dakota Electric estimates what the thieves could have made away with at little more than $100.
Other electric utilities are reporting a drop in copper thefts over the past year for that reason. Still, it's a danger at any price.
With a loud crackle and a bright arc, Dakota Electric's safety director demonstrates why.
"This would be electrical contact," said Kevin Fowler, showing the voltage that could occur.
He uses a cart with miniature overhead power lines to teach the dangers of a 12,000-volt electric shock.
The alleged copper thief took more than five times the amount of voltage, along with hundreds of amperes. Fowler said it likely created a ball of intense fire, six to eight feet across.
"It's essentially the same as being put in a microwave oven. It cooks you from the inside out and it will be a lifetime of pain and agony," he said.
Stachowiak was taken to Region's Hospital in St. Paul where he is being treated for severe burns to his torso. He is listed in stable condition.
And in due time, he will report to the Social Security Disability Office and claim that he is unable to work as a result of the chronic pain and agony and will then be granted benefits for the rest of his rotten, stinking, thieving, low-life, crooked life.
And that little bit of socialistic crap was brought to you by that idiot liberal democrat Roosevelt. Or was it Johnson's Great Society that came up with the Disability crap? I don't remember. Anyway.
And the truly bad part is that it isn't costing you and I anything, but our children's children will receive that bill.
Ain't life grand?
The ICU staff complained that he disturbed the whole floor because the only thing he would do is answer “WATT!” Then we would start chanting “ohm... ohm.”
No, it gets better. Maybe he can sue the power company!
You know how those evil power companies can be. They got deep pockets too.
What sparked his interest and gave light to his ingenuity?
Teacher questioning dumbest kid in class:
Teacher: “David, can you name a unit of electricity?”
David: “WHAT?”
Teacher: “Why that’s right...a watt. Let’s try another one.”
“What is a good conductor of electricity?”
David: “Why...Er...”
Teacher: “That’s amazing, wire is the correct answer...A gold star for you today David”
Probably don’t have to worry about him applying for SS. If conscious, he’ll be in excruciating pain for the rest of his life— which will be very short. Electricity burns on the outside look very minor. But the total organ damage inside will start a rapid deterioration and he’ll die of massive organ failure. Of course, after 10’s of thousands of dollars are wasted trying to ‘save’ him and treat him.
If he was hit by 69,000 volts, it won’t take too long. Probably less time than filling out the SS forms and getting a determination. [grin]
Our Habitat house was stripped of installed wire. The theft involved damage to the home and losses of upwards of 3,000 dollars plus the original install of wiring. The thieves damaged wire install plus finished drywall paint and trim.
Salvage probably netted thieves 80 dollars.
Yeah they steal from everything/everywhere - the salvage yards probably know it and accept it anyway.
“You’ll never take me alive, copper!”
“Cook ‘em Dano.”
Brilliant....
HAH!!!
My daughter and her husband live in New Orleans where it is not uncommon for homeowners to return home to find that someone has gone underneath their homes and ripped out the copper plumbing lines. It has happened to a friend of theirs - twice!
File this case under Copper Clipper Caper.
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