Taking scrap metal from a property without permission from the property owner landed a Linton couple in jail for charges of theft.

A caller reported to dispatch a truck was stopped in the roadway and its passengers were taking scrap metal from his neighbors property. Deputy Harvey Holt from the Greene County Sheriff’s Department met the truck reported to dispatch at the intersection of County Road 600 West as he turned left onto County Road 400 North. Inside the vehicle were 39-year-old Justin Frye and 50-year-old Alicia Frye.

When walking to the rear of the vehicle to get the license plate information, Holt observed random scrap metal, including a screen door in the back of the truck. Holt noted the scrap metal contained fresh vegetation, indicating it was recently placed there.

Justin initially denied being on anyone else’s property, later stating he obtained the items from his cousin’s property. When Holt told Justin about the neighbor’s report, he said all the items came from his property as he scraps for a living.

Frye insisted the metal was all from his property, stating he wasn’t sure why a neighbor would claim he saw him taking metal from the property. When Holt placed him in custody in his patrol vehicle, Justin changed his story. He said he took the metal, but only that which was lying in the ditch.

When talking to Deputy Holt, Alicia said the items came from her property. When Holt told her of the neighbors report, she said she only walked to the ditch to find Justin. She said some of the scrap was from their house but some was already in the truck when they bought it. When Holt informed her lying would constitute a crime, she began to cry. She said they recently had generators stolen from their property and had accumulated a high bill with the utility department. She admitted she only went into the ditch of the property but was unsure how far Justin went onto the property.

The property owner verified there was a scrap screen door on his property. Holt provided pictures of items in the Fryes truck and the property owner identified them as his. The property owner told Holt he and another person walked the ditch and fence line and sprayed for weeds on June 29 and there were no scrap metal items in the ditch at that time. The property owner said he wanted to press charges for theft against Justin and Alicia. He said he was not related to the Fryes and did not give them permission to take items from his property.

Holt drove Justin to the property where he found the metal, which was on County Road 550 West in Worthington. He said the metal was lying in the ditch; however, Holt was unable to find any impressions where metal would have been lying on the ground. He did; however, find tracks where someone had walked in the grass to a wire fence on the property line.

Justin and Alicia were arrested and charged with theft, a Class A misdemeanor. Each of their bonds were set at $1,000 surety with 10% cash allowed. They each posted $100 and were released later the same day.