10/08/2026
JACKSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2026
Five Charged Following Investigation of Brightspeed Cable Theft
JACKSONVILLE, AR — Five individuals were charged following a Jacksonville Police Department investigation into the theft of Brightspeed telecommunications cable near 3008 South First Street on October 8.
At approximately 6:49 a.m., officers responded to a reported theft and discovered cut cable and a damaged utility pole. Fresh drag marks led officers into a nearby wooded area, where they located a campsite and detained five individuals.
Officers recovered burned wire, exposed wire and discarded cable casing from the campsite and surrounding area. They also located a warm, smoky burn pit, wire cutters and a reciprocating saw. A Brightspeed representative identified the recovered cable and casing as company property and estimated damage to the cable and utility pole at approximately $35,000. The property owner confirmed that the individuals did not have permission to occupy the campsite.
Michael Shrubs, Jerry Rogers and Christina Parnell, all of Jacksonville, were arrested and charged with:
• Theft of Scrap Metal
• Unauthorized Use of Another’s Property to Facilitate Certain Crimes
• Criminal Mischief
• Damaging Wires and Other Fixtures of Telephone, Cable, and Electric Companies
• Tampering with Evidence
• Possessing Instruments of a Crime
Shrubs was also charged with Possession of a Schedule I or II Substance. All three were transported to the Pulaski County Jail following processing at the Jacksonville Police Department.
Kevin Johnson and Bryan George, both of Jacksonville, were each cited for Criminal Trespass and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and released.