Havens faces nine charges in Ohio, may face charges in Kentucky

A man from Portsmouth has been arrested in connection with several break-ins from area electrical substations.

The Greenup County and Scioto County sheriff’s have been trying to identify who has been breaking into AEP substations and other businesses in the area and stealing copper and other items. A still photo of a male suspect from surveillance video was released and tips from the public lead to a suspect.

Starting on Feb. 1, there were break-ins at several locations in Scioto and Lawrence counties in Ohio and Greenup County in Kentucky. Metals including copper and aluminum were taken. The theft at a AEP substation in Lloyd, Kentucky knocked out power to over 1,200 people in Greenup, Kentucky.

On Friday, the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office recovered some of the stolen property and the suspect’s vehicle that was used in these crimes. Detectives attempted to locate the suspect at his residence located at 169 Millers Ridge Road in Portsmouth, but they were unable to get anyone to answer the door.

On Saturday, investigators returned to the suspect’s home at 7 a.m. and knocked on the door. No one would answer the door but the deputies could hear people moving around inside.

While a detective was typing up a search warrant, one of the suspects decided to open the back door. While searching inside the trailer, the female suspect was found hiding inside of the shower, both were detained without incident and taken to the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office for further investigation that resulted in both of them being arrested.

Ryan B. Haven, 37, 169 Millers Ridge Portsmouth, was arrested and charged with nine counts of breaking and entering, a felony of the 5th degree and is currently being held on a $135,00 bond.

Also arrested was Amber R. Beckwith, 35, of 169 Millers Ridge Road, Portsmouth. Beckwith has been served three warrants two for failure to appear on original charges of aggravated possession of drugs and possession of drug abuse instruments along with an Indictment warrant out of Common Pleas Court for failure to appear along with a probation holder; Beckwith is being held without bond.

Captain John W. Murphy stated that during this investigation the detective was also able to confirm that Ryan Havens is the person who broke into the substation in Kentucky that caused the power outage; this information had been forwarded to the Greenup County Sheriff’s Office.

Greenup County Sheriff Matt Smith complimented his Scioto County counterparts for a job well done and assured the residents of Lloyd, Kentucky who had suffered from electrical outages because of the thefts that his department would be pursuing charges against Havens in Kentucky.

“Investigators from my office will be seeking criminal indictments against this individual and he will be brought to back to Kentucky where he will be held accountable for his actions,” Smith wrote in a Facebook post.

Scioto County Sheriff Captain John W. Murphy stated that the quick arrest and recovery of property was the result of the deputies, detectives and the public who called in with information on these cases.

Murphy stated that during this investigation the detective was also able to confirm that Havens is the person who broke into the substation in Kentucky that caused the power outage. The information had been forwarded to the Greenup County Sheriff’s Office.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini stated that this is still an ongoing investigation that will result in more charges being presented to the grand jury on a later date.

Anyone with information should contact Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091