Men arrested, accused of stealing copper from Royal Gorge railroad

Two Canon City men were arrested for theft on Thursday.

Fremont County Deputies tell KRDO Newschannel 13, the theft occurred Thursday morning. Deputies received a call that employees of the Canon City & Royal Gorge Route Railroad had seen two men attempting to steal rolls of copper wire that had been cut from the “slide fence” that runs along the railroad tracks through the Royal Gorge. The “slide fence” is a critical safety device that alerts the railroad crews when rocks break through the fence wire and possibly onto the train tracks.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested one suspect, 25-year-old James Patrick Ophof as he attempted to walk out of the gorge near Tunnel Drive. A second suspect, 28 year old Rory Nathan Johnson was arrested by a detective as Johnson attempted to flee the area a short time later.

Railroad employees estimated the damage to the “slide fence” and value of the copper wire at over $2,000.00. Both men are being held on $3,000.00 bond.