MiddletownJournal.com

ST. CLAIR TWP. — A 22-year-old Hamilton man died early Monday after being electrocuted by power lines while attempting to steal copper, according to the Butler County Sheriff's Office.

Brandon Reed of Westridge Drive was killed about 2:50 a.m. while climbing a utility pole on U.S. 127 at the bridge just north of the city limits, according to Lt. Marian Olivas of the sheriff's office.

Josh Snyder, 24, of Symmes Road, whom detectives said was Reed's accomplice, called 911 and was trying to yell at Reed when deputies arrived. Reed was located 25 feet up the utility pole where he secured himself with a harness, according to the sheriff's office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Olivas said Snyder originally told deputies he was driving by, heard a scream and then a flash.

"But it appears that he dropped him off and was going to come back and pick him up," Olivas said.

Snyder has been charged with complicity to misdemeanor theft and was being booked into the Butler County Jail Monday. A court date had not yet been set Monday afternoon, but Snyder remained housed in the county jail in lieu of $500 bond.

Following an autopsy Monday afternoon, Reed's death was ruled an accident and the official cause electrocution.

In recent years with the price of scrap metal skyrocketing, so have incident of scrap metal theft throughout the area.

Sgt. Melina Smith of the Butler County Sheriff's Office said scrap theft incidents are "ramped."

"We were afraid something like this would happen," said Smith

Reed has a past criminal record was awaiting trial on September on charges of burglary and impersonating a peace officer for posing as a deputy to take prescription medication from an elderly woman, according to court records.