Published: July 23, 2008 10:34 pm      

Two accused in $15,000 mining company theft

Beckley Police say two Raleigh County men are accused of stealing $15,000 in metal from a mine equipment company and cashing it in for a few hundred bucks.

Michael Robert Humphrey, 23, of Piney View; and Robert Randall Meade II, 29, of Stanaford, each were charged with grand larceny, said Detective Sgt. David Allard. Humphrey was arrested Tuesday. He is being held at the Southern Regional Jail under $25,000 bond set by Raleigh County Magistrate Rick Jones.

Meade remains at large, Allard said.

Sometime between late June and early July, Allard said, Humphrey and Meade took the steel and cast iron from Universal Coal Filters on Stanaford Road. The firm had metal stored outside then, but has since moved it to a more secure area.

Allard said the suspects then took the metal to a Mabscott recycling center, where it was cashed it for about a few hundred dollars. The two were identified after Allard tracked down receipts from the recycling center.

Multiple receipts were found, and Humphrey and Meade are possibly linked to other metal thefts outside the Beckley city limits, Allard said.

Humphrey confessed to his role in the crime, and during an earlier interview, Meade admitted involvement, Allard said.

Allard noted the price for scarp metal is high and thieves often want to cash in. But, he warned those who may be tempted by a little extra cash not to take the risk.

“The scrap yards work diligently with us,” he said. “They keep records and receipts and will turn them over to police. There’s a paper trail. Through these records; we will find out who you are and what you are up to.”

Meade is described as a white man, 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 255 pounds, Allard said. He has brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is encouraged to call the Beckley Police Department at 256-1720 or Crime Stoppers at 255-7867.

— E-mail: apridemore@register-herald.com