[Scan-DC] WHCA Comms Equipment Theft

[Scan MD]

http://tinyurl.com/f6vey

Two teenage boys were charged with second-degree theft after Bettendorf police
found them in possession of radios and other equipment reported missing from a
White House agency.

Matthew Bradshaw, 13, and Angel Luis Reyes III, 14, both of Bettendorf, were
arrested July 30 when police discovered them with communications equipment that
belonged to the White House Communications Agency.

The equipment, described by the Associated Press as three radios and more than
a half-dozen "earpiece/wrist microphone combinations," apparently was reported
missing less than a week before a July 17 visit to Bettendorf by Vice President
Dick Cheney.

Officials said the radios couldn't be operated without a special code. No White
House or Secret Service officials would comment, however, about how the radios
disappeared in the first place.

Bettendorf police did not return multiple telephone calls from a reporter
Friday.

Pat Hendrickson, juvenile court officer for Scott County, said the boys were
apprehended without incident.

"I think they were just walking down the street and the officers saw them with
what they knew to be expensive radios," Hendrickson said. "They then were found
to be stolen."

Reyes' mother did not respond to a phone call requesting comment. Bradshaw's
mother could not be reached.

Scott County court documents show Bradshaw told authorities that he found two
of the radios and their earpiece/wrist accessories, according to the Associated
Press. Another radio and seven earpiece/microphone attachments were found in
Reyes' bedroom on the same day.

Both teens have previous juvenile arrests, including assault and fifth-degree
theft for Reyes and assault and third-degree burglary for Bradshaw.

Second-degree theft, which applies when the stolen merchandise is valued at
between $1,000 and $10,000, is punishable by up to five years in prison.
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