Similar
Stories
Friday, August 1, 2008 , Updated 12:14 p.m., August 4, 2008
UPDATED: Man trying to steal copper wires gets badly burned on utility pole in Dallas
Crime does not pay.
DALLAS — Responding to a call at 5:30 a.m. on Friday from a passerby, Dallas Fire-Rescue found a man who was on top of a utility pole, severely burned. Looks like he was trying to steal copper wiring. It took them over an hour to get him down because his flesh had "melded" with the metal on the pole.
The passerby saw wires sparking on the utility pole in the 800 block of Regal Row, near Irving, and there were reports of power outages. Officials think that the man was hit with 7,620 volts, possibly twice, and most of his clothes were burned off or blown off. He suffered third-degree burns and was burned on about 50 percent of his body, and was taken to Parkland Hospital.
UPDATE: The man, 51-year-old James Buster McKay, died at 11 p.m. on Saturday evening from his injuries.
Posted by T.G.
Nearby stories
- New food truck park opens this weekend near Love Field
- Dancers sue Baby Dolls for refusing to compensate them
- Hazmat team finds corn starch in envelope at Dallas business
- Restaurant review: Taco's House in Dallas dishes up impeccable lamb
- Celebrate Sonny Bryan's 55th birthday with $2 off a barbecue sandwich
Faved or commented on by...
Latest Contests
Latest comments...
Business Insider says Houston is "best city in America"
I've lived in the DFW area for over 30 years and have never had problems finding a job. I know that
12ozfred, anonymous:
One word...Karma.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
Sucks that the dude lost his life trying to scrape together a few bucks. If only he'd have gone about it via legal means...
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
davidg, anonymous:
Sucks less than a dude <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/jun/19/two-shot-and-killed-outside-christian-music-record/">ending the lives of others</a> to scrape together a few bucks.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
xdavidwattsx, anonymous:
Darwin wins again.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
What the hell is wrong with people?
So much of this could be stopped by something as simple as having a bottle deposit.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Lisa Lawrence Merritt, verified:
Word: Rotten.com
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Pavel Lishin, verified:
Stupid people with short-sighted get-rich-quick schemes won't be distracted by the glamorous life-style of a hobo-pushing-a-cart-full-of-cans. I'm pretty sure they'll keep stealing copper.
Because, you know. That's more respectable.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Suza Kanon, verified:
nobody is getting rich off stealing copper except the scrap metal yards that are buying the stuff no questions asked and a legislature that could care less.
the economy is bad enough for crime to just get worse these days. its unfortunate what people are doing to try to survive.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
What does the economy have to do with crime?
It's not like criminals go and get real jobs..and stop committing crimes when the 'economy is good'.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
Clay, if you can't see that there's a correlation between economic downturns and people resorting to illegal means of obtaining cash...you're dead to me.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
davidg, anonymous:
And if you can't see how the price of copper relates to the health of the economy, you're dead to <b>me</b>.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
Oh crap the news says the economy is bad-- better go rob some people!
No.
Sorry.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
You're officially dead to me.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
Oh. That's too bad.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Miller, verified:
Most of the criminals I've known had real jobs.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
Uhh, how many criminals have you known? And do you plan on going to any PegNews functions?
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Rick Yost, verified:
"melded"- Yuck!
I've known a few real career-criminals in my day (small time of course) It seemed to me to be their particular bad attitudes toward society in general that kept them from working real jobs, not the economy.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Miller, verified:
Scott Doyle
Question # 1- I know and have known all kinds of people, from white collar embezzlers to crooked politicians and cops to lowly, desperate street hustlers. And more.
Question # 2- yes.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
James Scott, verified:
Is this really that hard of a concept to fathom? Bad economy = fewer jobs. Fewer jobs = more unemployment. More unemployment = more people desperate for money. More people desperate for money = more people willing to do whatever it takes for money...need I continue?
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
oh damn eyz gat fahd frum ma job at mikky d's imma go rob sumbudy
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Clay213, anonymous:
eyz wish teh ekaw no me wuz not so bad
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Chris Kidd, verified:
Im sorry, but this whole situation is darkly humorous. I laughed when he blew off his pants last week and they digitized his asscrack when they pulled him down. If you're that stupid to steal $50 bucks worth of copper and cause 25 large in damage, you deserve to die.
Im also throwing this guy in for a darwin award.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
lastangelman, anonymous:
I hate these copper thieves. I'm glad this reprobate has been taken out by his own dumbness and serves as a warning for other like-minded bastards. The havoc they wreak on the community, the damage and grief they cause, it's nearly unfathomable. And who are these "ask no questions" scrap metal merchants that accept and pay the copper thieves? Obviously, they're the real criminals, they're the very people who are encouraging the thieves. An irreplaceable bust in a public park in Arlington was razed and melted down by these miscreants. What's next, the Statue of Liberty (62,000 lbs of copper sheeting @ $3.4875 a pound, total value on spot market, a mere $216,225.00)?
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Chris Kidd, verified:
Most of this is due to the really lax laws this state has on metal theft, as well as the cops not wanting to chase down the thieves or the scrap dealers who "fence" the stolen goods. At one of the recent crime watch meetings down here, the cops suggested business owners "grease their pipes" so the thieves cant climb buildings and steal from AC units.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
xdavidwattsx, anonymous:
"grease their pipes".
Ok. Brilliant. Thanks DPD.
I agree, much more strict scrap metal laws would really help as well as actual enforcement.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
Uhh, they're <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2008/may/18/metal-thefts-spurring-legislation-dfw-cities/">working on it</a>. Granted, not fast enough or efficiently, but at least they're trying.
And unless you want cops constantly surveying your everything, they're not going to be everywhere all the time.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, anonymous:
Careful Clay. You don't want David to picture you to death. Speaking of which, have we lost twisteddog forever?
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Chris Kidd, verified:
All of this is getting tabled for the 2009 legislative session, which is one of my big complaints about this state when it comes to government doing their jobs. On the cops, I know the DPD has a manpower issue and they should focus on what we all consider serious crimes.
I guess im crazy for suggesting this, but maybe its time for the old west mentality of bounty hunting to come back into force, maybe offer a price on their heads, that'll get em off the streets quick ;)
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle, verified:
jtm, I certainly hope twisted is on vacation or something rather than getting teary-eyed over a lark. Doyle awaits his return as well. =(
<a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/users/twisteddog/">Appears</a> he mustered up the will to comment once more after that thread, but it was a couple of weeks ago.
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, anonymous:
Hopefully he's just lurking for a bit...
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
hullaballo, anonymous:
"What's next, the Statue of Liberty (62,000 lbs of copper sheeting @ $3.4875 a pound, total value on spot market, a mere $216,225.00)?"
That's a great idea. How is it attached? Is it mac-welded or do you think it's attached with plating screws? Even just a few sheets would do it, I think. I'd love to get that bull on Wall Street, or at least cut the horns off - or is that brass?
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
alexander troup, verified:
I recall the story of a man who was shocked to death but also welded to the pole in this kind of dangerous criminal activity,then again, lot of pennies rolling around in them wires...A/T, Dont confuse copper with silver in them wires or you will get burned..
Link to this comment | Suggest removal
What do you think?