LEWIS COUNTY - Detectives arrested two more suspects in a copper wire theft ring which had been operating in Lewis County.

Daniel M. McEwen, 35, of Selah was arrested Wednesday at his residence and booked into the Lewis County Jail on suspicion of theft, malicious mischief and trafficking in stolen property.

Brian K. Bradley, 45, of Winlock was arrested Thursday and booked into jail on suspicion of theft, possession of stolen property, malicious mischief and trafficking in stolen property.

McEwen's and Bradley's bail had not been set.

Detectives believe McEwen and Bradley were operating in connection with Myndee Kelly, Clayton Fraley, and Charles Tanner, who were arrested last week by a special task force created in June to battle the rash of wire thefts.

Sixty-five cases of wire theft have been reported at public utility districts in Lewis County since January of 2008.

Detectives believe they have solved and cleared almost all of the thefts with the arrests of the five above mentioned subjects.

Copper wire is expensive to replace, both in labor and material. The theft ring also exposed the public to potential hazardous wires on the ground, and left residents without power.

The public is being asked to call 911 to report any suspicious activity or downed wire around utility power poles. Rewards of up to $1,000 are being offered by Crime Stoppers for any information leading to the conviction of thieves taking PUD copper wire.

"The task force did an outstanding job of following the few leads we came across in grinding this case out leading to the arrests all of the major suspects involved in this wire theft ring," said Sheriff Steve Mansfield. "Since the original arrests ... there have been no reports of any further Lewis County PUD wire theft."