Three South Boston men have been arrested after they were found at the
former Georgia-Pacific site on Monday morning, attempting to steal
scrap metal. Arrested were Roderick Windsor and Rodney Wyatt of Ridge
Street and Eddie F. Brown, Jr. of  Spring Avenue.  Each was charged
with destroying property, possessing burglary tools, attempting to
steal scrap metal and trespassing on the old Georgia Pacific plant
property, now owned by Halifax County.
All three men are being held in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax
on $10,000 bonds.
Members of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department received a call
around 8:30 a.m. on Monday morning, July 9 about the activity. Arriving
at the plant deputies found the chain on the gate had been cut and
three subjects were inside with a metal saw cutting up the scrap metal.
According to Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Mike
Eades, a "substantial amount" of copper wiring has been taken from the
former plant, as well as aluminum and other metal. He noted that no
firm estimate of the loss is yet available.
Eades said county officials were aware that scrap metal was being
stolen from the site over the past several months, but had been unable
to find the culprits. "We are so glad they have finally stopped them,"
he said.