Fingerprints lead to identification of alleged copper thief in Texarkana

TEXARKANA, Texas -- An alleged fingerprint match led to a felony charge for a Texarkana man accused of causing more than $68,000 in damage to a commercial air conditioning unit.

Devion Lee Henson, 32, allegedly stripped the outside unit at a building in the 2800 block of 15th Street in Texarkana, Texas, the night of March 13, according to a probable cause affidavit. Fingerprints collected at the scene by Texarkana Texas Police Department crime scene technician Spencer Price allegedly are a match to Henson's.

Blood samples, which take longer to process than fingerprints, were also collected.

"It appeared the suspect cut themselves while taking parts of the air conditioner unit," the affidavit states.

Tools used during the theft were collected as well.

The business owner submitted a copy of an estimate for $68,035.13 to replace the air conditioner, which was a total loss.

At the time of his arrest March 19 on a charge of felony criminal mischief, $30,000 to $100,000, Henson was free on a $10,000 personal recognizance bond in a separate felony case. He is accused of damaging commercial HVAC units at a building in the 900 block of West 21st Street in Texarkana, Texas.

A concerned citizen called 911 to report a man in a camouflage hoodie or jacket "cutting up items" behind a fenced-in area at the location.

Two units at the building were inspected by police and found to be missing all copper piping.

"Most of the cuts were smooth and appeared as though a Sawzall or some type of pipe cutting instrument was used to remove the piping," the affidavit states.

Texarkana, Texas, police stopped Henson at the intersection of West 21st and Main streets. He allegedly was wearing a camouflage hoodie, gloves on his hands and "multiple pair of loose pants."

"The male also was pulling a small homemade-style cart which was loaded with some type of AC unit condensers and copper piping which had smooth cuts around most of the ends," the affidavit states.

Henson allegedly claimed to have found a red bag officers could see in his cart.

"Due to the bag being abandoned property, I opened the top zipper of the bag and located one Sawzall, one pair of bolt cutters and a battery for the Sawzall," the affidavit states.

Henson was arrested that day on a charge of felony theft of material. He was released on bond Feb. 10.

If convicted of felony criminal mischief, Henson faces two to 10 years in prison. If convicted of theft of material, he faces six months to two years in a Texas state jail.

Henson is scheduled to appear before 202nd District Judge John Tidwell in April.

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