Texas Deputies Nab Man Stealing SWAT Training Center Generators

A man was arrested Friday morning for attempting to steal wires and cords from "several large generators" powering the New Caney police officer SWAT training center, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Cameras were activated and alarms were sounded signaling deputies to respond to the former Keefer Crossing Middle School. When deputies arrived at the SWAT training center, they encountered Clifford Chester Coplen Jr., 57, who was allegedly stealing the wires and cords, the sheriff's office said.

Coplen disconnected the generators and coiled the huge power cords, according to the sheriff's office. He had also cut some other wire.

Deputies arrested Coplen and he was charged with theft of aluminum/copper/brass under $20,000, evading arrest with a previous conviction and he has an open warrant from the Texas Board of Pardon and Parole.

Law enforcement has arrested Coplen many times in the past for driving while intoxicated, arson, assault, drugs, criminal mischief, failure to identify, theft of property and prior theft of copper.

In 2014, Coplen was sentenced to one year in jail for stealing copper. He was sentenced to four years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 2019 for possession of a controlled substance.

Coplen is currently being held without bond in the Montgomery County Jail. Authorities are also looking for a man riding a bicycle and pulling a wagon for an incident several days earlier where a wire was stolen.

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