Trumbull County Sheriff detectives say it may be a few more days before they are able to identify the man who was electrocuted when he broke into an Ohio Edison substation early Monday morning.
Deputies say they believe the man was trying to steal copper wire from the electrical substation at the intersection of Stoddard Hayes and Gardner Barkley Roads. He is identified as a white male in his 30s, with numerous tattoos. Anyone with information is asked to call the Trumbull County Sheriff's office.
Officials say the damage from the cut wires caused a power surge which touched off more than a dozen small fires in homes and caused power outages.
"We had three commercial fire alarms go off and we had seven reports of smoke in houses," said Kinsman Fire Chief Doug Elser.
Ohio Edison officials said about 2000 people in northern Trumbull County were without power for most of the morning, and many of those living in the area say several of their appliances may have been destroyed.
Sherry Greskovich says she unplugged her TV and took it outside after it started smoking. "I heard a pop. The computer started to glow, so I unplugged everything and started to smell smoke in the house," Greskovich said.
Those living a few miles away in Andover experienced about the same thing. One teenager says his mom woke him up after hearing loud noises. "She heard popping and then the TV went boom and we went downstairs and the other TV went boom," he said.
Ohio Edison officials say they continue to warn people to stay out of the substation areas, since they are highly dangerous.
