Elgin man charged with metal theft

A 42-year-old Elgin man has been charged after police say he was caught loading scrap metal into a vehicle early Thursday morning.

Officers conducting surveillance in the area of 305 Ramona Avenue after reports of scrap metal theft, spotted Gregory A. Wiemold Jr., of the 100 block of Villa Street loading the metal into a vehicle shortly after 3:45 a.m.

Officers approached Wiemold to confront him, but he drove off, police said. Pursuing officers stopped Wiemold about a mile and a half away near the area of Shales Parkway and Route 20.

Wiemold, who was driving on a revoked license, was arrested and found to be in possession of 742 pounds of metal alloy. The metal was valued at more than $3,500, according to police.

Wiemold was charged with felony theft and felony driving with a revoked license, according to police.