Belleville man arrested for breaking into, vandalizing water treatment plant in Washtenaw County

SYLVAN TWP. (WWJ) — A Belleville man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into and vandalizing a Washtenaw County water treatment plant.

Michigan State Police officials on Thursday said 33-year-old Matthew Gary Tieppo of Belleville was arraigned Monday on charges of breaking and entering a building with intent, trespass upon a key facility and malicious destruction of a building $1000 to $20,000.

MSP officials previously said they were called to the water treatment plant in Sylvan Township — about halfway between Ann Arbor and Jackson — around 7 a.m. Monday when employees showing up for work discovered the building had been broken into.

As a trooper was taking a report from the employees, Tieppo was seen coming out of the building. He was arrested at the scene.

Officials said at the time the suspect had broken into the plant, caused damage to the inside and tampered with the system controls. There was also evidence of “attempts to damage local infrastructure.”

He reportedly poured cement down multiple drains, according to WDIV.

Authorities believe Tieppo got onto the property by cutting a hole in a barbed wire fence and when he got inside, he spray painted over the building’s windows in an attempt to not be seen, MSP officials previously said.

He also “created a makeshift bed from items in the building,” MSP officials said Monday.

Officials said Monday there was no visual evidence that the water had been contaminated, but residents were being told not to drink the water while authorities ran tests to confirm its safety.

Tieppo’s bond was set at $25,000 cash or surety, but it is not known if he was able to post his bond. His next court date is scheduled for July 18.

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