Scrappers Busted On Windmill Thefts In Canadian County

A pair of Oklahoma City men were arrested early Tuesday morning after a five month Investigation by the Canadian County Sheriff' Office landed both behind bars.

Aaron M. McCarthy, 44 and Michael E. O'Neil, 21 both of Oklahoma City were taken into custody after a series of windmill and farm equipment thefts led investigators to McCarthy. The Sheriff's Office first identified McCarthy as a possible suspect in the crimes in October of 2014, after they went to his residence to follow-up on a report of McCarthy and another man being discovered inside a rural barn. Both men fled the scene after they were challenged by the property owner.

"After the property owner noticed that a strange truck was parked near his property, he decided to investigate and confronted two men tossing metal equipment from the second story hay loft of his barn. There's no doubt the two were planning to steal the items, so they could sell them to recycling centers for cash," said Randall Edwards, Canadian County Sheriff.

Although Investigators were unable to contact McCarthy when they first went to his Oklahoma City residence, they noticed numerous windmill fans lying in the front yard of his garage apartment located in the 2400 Block of N. Miller. A few days later, one of the same investigators learned that a deputy had taken report of a windmill being stolen from a farm near Cimarron Road and NW Highway.

Recalling that windmill parts had been observed in the front yard of McCarthy's residence, Investigators decided to make another attempt to contact him in order to determine his involvement in the crimes, if any. McCarthy met with investigators and confessed to being inside the barn, but denied having any involvement with windmill thefts.

Investigators focused their attention on McCarthy after additional windmill thefts occurred in Canadian, Blaine and Kingfisher counties, and it was learned that he had sold a used windmill to a couple living near Geary, Oklahoma. Investigators were also able to determine McCarthy was selling fans to several antique dealers in and around the Oklahoma City area.

After months of investigation and surveillance, McCarthy's crime spree was finally brought to a halt when he and O'Neil were apprehended Tuesday morning. Investigators spotted McCarthy's vehicle on an abandoned farm property in far NE Canadian County where they knew he had been scrapping the day before.

Attempting to avoid apprehension, McCarthy fled from Investigators driving his 2000 Ford pickup eastbound from the farm house, and through a wheat field. Both McCarthy and O'Neil exited the pickup and fled on foot. A perimeter of the area was established and McCarthy and O'Neil were taken into custody about two hours later, when they were pulled from McCarthy's girlfriend's vehicle in the area.

After his arrest, McCarthy confessed to investigators he had stolen a number of windmills, several flatbed trailers, as well as some other equipment from rural farm properties in Canadian County.

"I'm always amazed by those who have no respect for the property of others, and I'm extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of the investigators that put these outlaws behind bars,"

McCarthy and O'Neil were transported to the Canadian County Jail where McCarthy was booked on Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, Second Degree Burglary and Conspiracy to Commit a Felony. O'Neil was booked for Petit Larceny and Conspiracy.

McCarthy and O'Neil remain in jail with bond set at $15,500.00 and $500.00 respectively. McCarthy has a Concealing Stolen Property, and False Declaration of Ownership to a Pawnshop case pending in Oklahoma County.