Teenager Accused Of Looting Home Burned In Cleveland County Wildfire

Cleveland County Sheriff's deputies arrested an 18-year-old man suspected of stealing an air conditioner from a home burned in the recent wildfires.

On Thursday, Cleveland County prosecutors formally charged Bryan James Abner with second-degree burglary.

A deputy was patrolling Wednesday in the 12900 block of Etowah Road in Noble when he saw two men holding an air conditioning unit outside a burned home. As the deputy approached them, the men dropped the unit and ran toward a pickup truck.

One of the men grabbed a cell phone from the truck and ran into the woods. He was not caught and is still on the run.

The sheriff's deputy was able to catch and arrest Abner. Investigators say they also found an air conditioner in the back of the truck, and Abner confessed to stealing it.

The sheriff's office is still searching for the other suspect.

8/5/2012 Related Story: Suspected Looter Arrested During Luther Wildfire