WARSAW — A Warsaw man has been arrested for stealing copper from the Edgewood Middle School construction site.

Richard Otho Piper Jr., 60, 504 S. Columbia St., Warsaw, is being charged with a class A misdemeanor of theft and a sentence enhancement theft enhancement level 6 felony.

On Thursday, July 7, a Warsaw Police Officer responded to a call of theft at Edgewood Middle School. When the officer arrived on scene, he talked with a Quality Plumbing and Heating employee, who reported between July 3 and 7, someone had stolen a large amount of copper pipe from the construction site, with an estimated value of $500.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a Warsaw Police officer spoke with Piper in regards to an unrelated scrap metal theft.

After signing a form to waiving his rights, Piper admitted he took some copper from the school construction site and sold it to Rochester Iron and Metal. Surveillance video from the company show Piper selling the pipe.

Piper stated he had permission to take the copper from the school site from the Quality Plumbing and Heating employee. The employee told the officer no one has permission to remove copper pipe of any type from the construction sites.

Piper has a previous conviction for theft in Kosciusko County Superior Court I, from Jan. 2, 2006.

Piper is being held on a $5,250 surety and cash bond.