A Denver man was arrested Monday night after allegedly attempting to steal part of an irrigation system from an Arvada park.
William Calderon, 30, was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. after police responded to a call about someone trying to forcibly remove a pipe from the ground at Homestead Park, according to Susan Medina, spokeswoman for Arvada Police.
When Calderon fled, his SUV struggled with the snow and ice. The SUV was found a few minutes after he fled the park, in the area west of 66th Avenue and Lamar Street.
Calderon was arrested without incident and taken to the Jefferson County Jail. He could face charges of theft.
Police discovered a metal backflow device in back of Calderon’s SUV. The pipe fittings are typically used in irrigation systems.
In the past, thieves in the area have stolen the devices, typically made of cooper and brass, and traded them in for cash, Medina said.
Police are working to determine whether Calderon is connected to a series of device thefts reported in Arvada since November of last year.
In January, several fittings were reported stolen in Boulder as well.
Jordan Steffen: 303-954-1794 or jsteffen@denverpost.com
