POLICE OFFICER PREVENTS GRAND THEFT

A SARASOTA POLICE OFFICER PREVENTED THE THEFT OF CABLE BY BEING OBSERVANT WHILE ON PATROL SATURDAY NIGHT.  POLICE SAY THE OFFICER ROLLED UP ON A VAN IN THE 700 BLOCK OF SOUTH TAMIAMI TRAIL AT AROUND 9PM AND OBSERVED 59 YEAR OLD MANUEL TENA OF SARASOTA BEING QUITE NERVOUS AS HE APPROACHED.  THE OFFICER SAW A LARGE SPOOL OF BLACK CABLE IN THE BACK OF THE VAN THAT WAS SIMILAR TO CABLE THAT WAS HANGING FROM A TELEPHONE POLE THAT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN CUT.  WHEN THE OFFICER ASKED TENA WAS HE WAS DOING, HE ADMITTED TO STEALING THE CABLE, SAYING HE HAD BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR THREE YEARS AND HE WAS GOING TO TRY AND SELL IT.  THERE WAS ALMOST 25,000 FEET OF CABLE ON THE SPOOL, WHICH IS VALUED AT SIX DOLLARS PER FOOT, MEANING THE VICTIM WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT MORE THAN $150,000 IF YOU ADD IN THE LABOR NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CABLE.  TENA WAS CHARGED WITH GRAND THEFT AND CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.  HE IS BEING HELD ON $16,000 BOND IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL.