ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A man caught cutting copper wires in south St. Louis County over the weekend, briefly disrupting 911 service, is now behind bars.

The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Michael Lovett, 36, of St. Louis, with second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage amid the investigation.

Investigators say Lovett caused up to $25,000 worth of damage and disabled 911 service for a brief period of time.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, police first responded to a report of trespassing at a business in the 1800 block of Avenue H. A witness told authorities he was working to address some issues with a network when he opened an equipment shed and made eye contact with a suspect, later identified as Lovett.

Lovett reportedly had a backpack and took off on a bicycle after eye contact. The witness claimed that Lovett cut a GPS signal that triggered a work order through AT&T, which initially brought the witness to the shed.

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While investigating, authorities noticed a large hole cut in the fence with portions of a barbed wire fence also cut off. An officer then noticed a bucket filled with copper wire near the fence.

Evidence then led police back to Lovett, who declined to make a statement over his allegations, per court documents.

Lovett was arrested on an unrelated warrant on Monday and booked into jail in St. Louis County on a $50,000 bond.

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