COPPER COWBOY ON THE LOOSE

AN ENGLEWOOD MAN WITH A REPUTATION AS THE COPPER COWBOY IS BEING SOUGHT IN CONNECTION WITH A SUNDAY MORNING INCIDENT.  DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO SUNRISE PARK ON EDGEWATER DRIVE JUST AFTER 8AM WHERE THEY FOUND A 1996 GREEN CHEVY BARETTA STUCK IN THE SAND WITH THE HOOD, TRUCK, AND DRIVER’S SIDE DOOR OPEN.  BEHIND THE CAR WAS A ROPE TIED TO THREE LENGTHS OF COPPER WIRING AT THE REAR OF THE RESTROOMS.  DEPUTIES SAY IT APPEARS THE CAR WAS USED TO PULL THE HEAVY COPPER WIRE ABOUT 100 FEET OUT OF THE PIPE FROM THE BACK OF THE RESTROOM AREA AT THE METER BOX.  FPL CUT THE POWER TO THE PARK AND IT HAS BEEN CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  DETECTIVE CONTACTED THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND SHE 39 YEAR OLD THOMAS EATON HAD BEEN USING THE CAR SINCE THURSDAY, AND EATON’S GIRLFRIEND SAID HE CALLED HER AND SAID HIS CAR WAS STUCK IN PORT CHARLOTTE.  DETECTIVES CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR EATON, WHOSE NICKNAME IS THE COPPER COWBOY, AND ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 639-2101, OR YOU CAN CALL CRIME STOPPERS TOLL FREE AT 800-780-TIPS.