Three Corbin men arrested for stealing scrap metal from local construction site

Three Corbin men were arrested Sunday for stealing items from a local construction site.

According to Corbin Police, Christopher Moore, 32; William Coffman, 32; and Jimmy Cothran, 54, were all charted with misdemeanor theft for loading up scrap metal from a construction site next to Monte Vista Drive.

Police say Whitley County Second District Constable Ron Bowling observed the three men behind the site acting suspicious and loading up items into the back of their 1988 Ford Ranger, then leave. Bowling stopped the vehicle. The men had metal fence posts and cable wire in the truck that they had taken from the work site.

The theft happened at about 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Bowling said he was surprised at the brazen nature of the crime.

"They were doing it right out in broad daylight," Bowling said. "What concerned me and made me suspicious about what they were doing is the fact that it happened while church was in session. We’ve had a lot of problems with theft while church is going on because the thieves know most people aren’t home then."

One of the three men, William Coffman, was cited in late July for a similar incident where police say he attempted to steal air conditioning units from a construction site at Corbin High School. He is scheduled to appear in Whitley District Court in Corbin Sept. 9 on that previous charge.

All three men were taken into custody by Corbin Police and lodged in the Whitley County Detention Center.

Bowling was assisted by Corbin Police Officers Col. David Maiden and Sgt. Shannon Jones.