POLICE BEAT

Woman accuses man of stealing electricityAnn Arbor Police say a 55-year-old man appeared to be living in a detached garage and stealing electricity from a nearby home using an extension cord.
The man was arrested for disorderly conduct after he refused to unplug the cord and allow officers into the garage, reports said.

A woman who lives in the 500 block of Detroit Street called police at about 5:30 p.m. and said she discovered an extension cord running from her residence to the garage, reports said. She said she unplugged it and returned later to find it plugged back in, reports said.

The woman said the man previously worked on her house, but did not have permission to use her electricity, reports said. The man told police the woman owed him money, so he was using the electricity, and he refused to disconnect the cord, reports said.

The man, who is on probation for third-offense drunken driving, appeared intoxicated and refused to cooperate with officers, reports said. He was arrested and also could face probation violation charges, police said.

Amalie Nash compiled this report.

The Ann Arbor News, April 4, 2006