Travis Wineman

PARKERSBURG — Two men were arrested by the Parkersburg Police Department from an investigation into the theft of copper, the police department said on Thursday.

On Monday, officers began an investigation into the theft of copper from air conditioning units at Cornerstone Health Care, the department said. As a result of the copper being cut, three air conditioning units were destroyed with an estimated replacement cost of more than $15,000, the department said.

During this investigation a photograph of a suspect was obtained, the department said.

On Thursday, officers responded to the 1800 block of Murdoch Avenue about a subject believed to be stealing copper, the department said.

Upon arriving, officers observed a man identified as Travis Wineman, 42, homeless, in a narrow gap between the electrical building and parking garage of St. Joseph’s, the department said. Officers observed Wineman to the photograph obtained of the suspect and observe him to have a duffle containing copper, the department said.

Ronald Gillen

Wineman was interviewed by detectives and confessed to stealing the copper from the air conditioning units at Cornerstone Health Care and the copper he possessed was from that theft, the department said.

Wineman was charged with felony destruction of property and arraigned in Wood County Magistrate Court where bond was set at $75,000, which Wineman failed to post, the department said.

On June 13, Parkersburg Police began an investigation into the theft of copper from an air conditioning unit at the Parkersburg Art Center, the department said.

Surveillance video was obtained of the suspect and Ronald Gillen, 65, 1314 Spring St., Parkersburg, was identified as the suspect, the department said. Gillen also was found to have taken copper to a local recycling center on June 11 and June 13, the department said.

Gillen was located, interviewed by detectives and confessed to the theft, the department said. Gillen was charged with one count of petit larceny and one count of destruction of property, both misdemeanors, the department said.

Gillen was arraigned in magistrate court and released on a $1,000 personal recognizance bond, the department said.