Copper theft causes $50K in damages to FAA radar tower – Man arrested
THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. — Authorities investigating a copper theft from a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar tower that occurred last month have identified and arrested a Thousand Palms man they say was responsible for the theft.
The theft caused more than $50,000 in damages to the radar tower, according to officials who investigated the incident, which occurred near the Edom Hills Wind Park, in the unincorporated area of Edom Hill and Varner Rd., in Thousand Palms.
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Deputies from the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station began investigating the theft June 2, before turning the investigation over to the station’s Special Enforcement Team, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Christopher Ternes reported yesterday.
While conducting further investigation into the theft, SET deputies identified Caleb Wilcox, 43, of Thousand Palms, as the primary suspect.
As their investigation continued, on July 10, SET deputies located and arrested Wilcox in the 73000 block of Ramon Rd., in Thousand Palms.
Wilcox was transported to Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning where he was booked on suspicion of grand theft, felony vandalism, possession of narcotics and narcotics related paraphernalia, and trespassing.
Online jail records indicate he was cited and released within hours of being booked into jail.
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy Jose Rosario or Deputy David Taylor (760) 836-1600. Callers can refer to incident file number TS201540004 and can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.