Man accused of stealing light pole sentenced Monday

MILWAUKEE — Guy Tengel, the Milwaukee man charged with cutting up and stealing a light pole from an on-ramp on Milwaukee County’s northwest side, pleaded guilty Monday, July 16th to misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor criminal damage to property.

Tengel was sentenced to 18 months of probation including 60 days in a Huber facility. He's also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution.

Department of Transportation highway cameras captured 47-year-old Tengel trying to load up a downed light pole into his truck at Highway 45 and Silver Spring Dr. Because the incident was caught on camera, Tengel was identified by the license plates on his minivan.

A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to the on-ramp. A short while later, the complaint says Tengel returned to the ramp and was pulled over. Inside of Tengel’s minivan, the deputy found fresh metal shavings.

The light pole had a value of more than $5,000.

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