Two people were arrested after Elyria police say they were found living in a trailer and stealing copper from a commercial property on Lorain Boulevard.
According to an Elyria Police Department report, officers were sent to the 1700 block of Lorain Boulevard around 11:19 a.m. on October 31 after the general manager reported a possible breaking and entering. She told officers a window on one of the buildings was open when it had previously been closed and said she was worried someone had gotten inside. She also reported past problems with people staying in unoccupied trailers on the lot and said two firearms had already been turned in to police from the property.
Officer Gonzales and Officer Juker searched the area. While checking the trailers, Officer Juker found 37-year-old Matthew Schwarz of Elyria at the rear door of a trailer on the southwest side of the lot. Schwarz was detained and then arrested on an active bench warrant. Officer Gonzales then found 31-year-old Katelynn Cool of Norwalk inside another trailer, lying on a small makeshift bed in the northwest corner. She was arrested on active warrants through the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.
The report states the inside of the trailer appeared as if the two had been living there for some time. Officer Gonzales noted containers of food, an established trash location, propane tanks and clothes hanging to dry.
During a search, Officer Gonzales found a large glass pipe lying on the ground next to where Cool had been sitting. The pipe appeared to have been used recently and later tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, according to the report. Officers also found a burnt spoon, a hypodermic needle and a plastic bag containing copper materials. Nearby, they recovered tools including wire cutters, a box cutter and utility knives, along with a significant amount of copper of various sizes and gauges inside a bucket, bag and milk crate.
Police say Schwarz admitted the glass pipe and other items in the trailer were his and said they would test positive for “ice.” Both suspects were advised of their Miranda rights. Officers told the pair that, because of the amount of copper and tools on the property, they would be charged with breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and criminal trespass. The report notes that “No Trespassing” signs were posted on the property. According to police, Schwarz and Cool denied stripping copper from that location but Cool admitted she strips copper as a form of income, stating, “that’s how I make my living.” Officer Gonzales wrote that Cool laughed when he mentioned a phrase referring to her as “copper queen,” responding, “Oh yeah, my makeup bag.”
Officers Witthuhn and Miller arrived to assist. The interior of the trailer was photographed and the evidence was collected and entered at the Elyria Police Department. Items listed in the report include 7.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a burnt metal spoon with cotton in a baggie, a large glass pipe, wire cutters, a box cutter and a screwdriver. The hypodermic needle was photographed and disposed of under department policy.
Schwarz was taken to the Lorain County Jail, where he will remain held without bond until his initial court appearance. Cool was also transported to the Lorain County Jail and will remain held without bond pending arraignment.
According to the report, Schwarz faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools, criminal trespass, drug paraphernalia and contempt of court. Cool is charged with breaking and entering, criminal trespass and possession of criminal tools.