Clayton Selvia, 28, 325 Logan Blvd., Golden Gate, and Saul Giaquinta, 32, whose address was listed on arrest reports as 16th Place Southwest in Golden Gate, are each charged with burglary, grand theft $300 to $5,000 and possession of burglary tools.
Investigators with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office began monitoring Selvia after receiving information from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office that Selvia was possibly involved in recent copper thefts reported in that county. There have been a series of copper wire thefts reported in Collier County in recent months.
Selvia is a documented career criminal in Collier County, and CCSO regularly monitors career criminals.
Arrest reports gave this account of the events leading up to the arrests:
Selvia left his home around 11:40 a.m. Thursday in a white GMC Safari van and drove directly to 5860 Crews Road, which is a communications tower facility owned by Renda Broadcasting. Crews Road is not a public access road. An “authorized vehicle only” sign is posted at the road entrance. The compound is surrounded by a 6-7 foot chain link fence with barbed wire on the top.
Selvia drove by the facility without stopping and then went straight home.
CCSO detectives visited the facility immediately after Selvia left. The tower and surrounding area appeared to be in normal working condition.
Around 2:30 p.m. Selvia left his home in the same van and drove around the Golden Gate area. At 3:21 p.m. detectives observed Selvia drive into Crews Road, where he and Giaquinta remained until about 4 p.m., when detectives observed him exit Crews Road.
Detectives immediately went down Crews Road to the communications facility, where they noticed the lock on the rear gate had been cut and the gate was open.
Detectives entered the fenced area and saw several wires and cable on the property had been freshly cut and removed.
Meanwhile, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Selvia’s van at Santa Barbara Boulevard and Recreation Lane around 4:07 p.m. Selvia and Giaquina were both dirty and sweating profusely.
A search of the van turned up fresh-cut copper wire and cables, along with large bolt cutters, a pry bar and large channel lock pliers.
Selvia and Giaquinta were arrested and booked into the Collier County jail.
Giaquinta was additionally charged with two felony counts of possession of a controlled substance after deputies found a small plastic bag containing Xanax and Oxycontin pills in his possession during the traffic stop, according to arrest reports.
 |
| Saul Giaquinta |
 |
| Clayton Selvia |
