CRISP COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - A 42-year-old man is facing multiple charges after deputies say he stole copper tubing and other equipment from South Georgia Technical College.

According to the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), deputies responded to the college’s campus on North Midway Road around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, following a report of a theft.

Investigators say the theft happened Oct. 29 and was captured on campus security cameras. The footage showed a man entering a restricted outdoor maintenance area and taking two boxes containing approximately 50 feet of copper tubing and a heater strip kit.

After reviewing the footage and conducting an investigation, deputies identified the suspect as Johnny Lawrence Bagwell Jr., 42, of Cordele. Investigators were able to locate a vehicle matching the one seen in the surveillance footage at Bagwell’s residence.

Around 10:30 a.m., just two hours after receiving the initial call, deputies had identified Bagwell and taken him into custody.

He was transported to the Crisp County Jail without incident.

Bagwell faces the following charges:

• Burglary in the second degree
• Damaging, injuring or interfering with property of public utility companies, municipalities or political subdivisions
• Theft of services (misdemeanor)

Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know. Please include the article’s headline in your message.

To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and X. For more south Georgia news, download the WALB News app and add WALB as a preferred source on Google.

Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.