Lang
2/27/24
A Coralville man is accused of causing thousands of dollars in damage to a construction site where he was reportedly stealing electrical equipment.
Coralville Police say just after 5:45 Monday night construction workers discovered 33-year-old Edin Barahona Blandon of the Western Hill Estates manufactured housing community inside condominiums under construction on Russell Slade Boulevard. Barahona Blandon had no right to be on the property, although he claimed his brother had sent him there to “clean”. He was given a criminal trespass warning and released.
Hours later, construction workers contacted police again to say they found a red snipping tool and several breakers that had been cut out of their panels and placed into a black trash bag. Security footage reportedly shows Barahona Blandon was the only person inside the construction site when the damage took place. A search of his vehicle reportedly turned up broken breakers inside, but he allegedly denied damaging or stealing anything.
The damage to the construction site is estimated at $5,000, and the stolen breakers were worth approximately $1,500.
Barahona Blandon is charged with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and 3rd Degree Theft. If convicted on both charges, he faces a maximum of seven years in prison.