Man burned in electric pole climb

Police say Odom severely injured during attempted theft of copper wire

By CRYSTAL OWENS
Item Staff Writer

A Sumter man was severely burned late Sunday night after he reportedly climbed an electrical pole to try and steal copper wire.

Authorities said Herbert Wayne Odom, 34, of 306 E. Charlotte Ave. was taken to Tuomey Regional Medical Center and later flown by helicopter to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Ga., following the 9:30 p.m. incident.

"There's fluid around his heart, and he's burnt up pretty good," said a man who only wanted to be identified as Odom's brother. "We're not sure if he's going to make it."

His condition could not be determined as of late Monday night.

A Sumter Police report said officers responded to the 700 block of Broad Street to find a semi-conscious Odom trapped between two transformers.

It's not known how long Odom was trapped before rescue crews arrived to free him, but the report said officers left the incident scene about four hours after they were called in.

Police said a ladder, rubber and garden gloves, vice grips and a wrench were seized from the scene.

Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson said most people generally steal copper wire from construction sites and don't risk the chance of being injured by climbing an electrical pole.

"In my experience, this is the first time I've heard of anything like this happening," she said.

Theft of copper wire and aluminum is on the rise, authorities said, because it can be sold at high market prices. The increase, officials have said, is fueled in part by a building boom in China that has pushed the demand for copper and aluminum to historic highs.

Police said during a search of Odom's home, they found a pile of stripped copper wire in his back yard.

Patterson said Odom has not been charged in the incident, but his girlfriend, Rebecca E. Greggs, 43, of 1540 N. Main St. was arrested after she reportedly told officers she dropped her boyfriend off on Broad Street and was told to come pick him back up.

She is being held at Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center awaiting a bond hearing, a jail spokesman said Monday.