A GARDENS OF GULF COVE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY STOLE COPPER WIRE FROM THE ROOF OF A PORT CHARLOTTE BANK. DEPUTIES SAY THEY RECEIVED A CALL AROUND 10PM SUNDAY OF A SUSPICIOUS PERSON SEEN ON TOP OF THE SUNTRUST BUILDING. DEPUTIES FOUND 35 YEAR OLD JONATHAN HOKE IN THE PARKING LOT, BUT LET HIM GO AFTER HE TOLD THEM HIS WIFE DROPPED HIM OFF AS THEY LEFT THEIR SUV TO CONSOLIDATE TO ONE VEHICLE FOR AN EASTER GATHERING. DETECTIVES CONTACTED THE PROPERTY MANAGER AND THEY WENT TO THE ROOF OF THE BANK AND FOUND TWO HUNDRED FEET OF COPPER GROUNDING WIRE HAD BEEN CUT OFF AND WAS MISSING. THE MANAGER SAID IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, AND HE SAID IT WAS ABOUT $10,000 TO REPLACE AND REPAIR THE COPPER. DETECTIVES WENT TO HOKE’S HOME AND NOTICED FRESHLY CUT COPPER WIRE IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP IN THE DRIVEWAY. HOKE TOLD DETECTIVES HIS WIFE TOOK HIS PICKUP HOME AND HE DROVE HER SUV WITH HER KEYS. SHE IS ALSO A PROPERTY MANAGER OF THE BUILDING, AND DETECTIVES SAY HOKE USED HIS WIFE’S KEY TO ENTER THE BUILDING, THEN HER OFFICE WHERE A KEY WAS KEPT IN HER DESK DRAWER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE ROOF OF THE BANK. HOKE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND GRAND THEFT. HE POSTED BOND AND WAS RELEASED.
