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Three Charged With Air Conditioning Thefts Causing $100,000 In Damages

A four month investigation has ended with the arrests of three people believed responsible for causing more than $100,000 worth of damages to air-conditioning units
in Pensacola.

“This is the successful culmination of investigations involving officers from Uniform Patrol, Neighborhood Services and Crime Scene with Criminal Investigations Detectives Dylan
Stackpole and James Reese leading the investigations,” said Pensacola Police Deparment Lt. Doug Baldwin.

Between mid-July and mid-October, Reese and Stackpole investigated approximately 50 cases of air-conditioning thefts and thefts of air-conditioning parts from churches, schools,
businesses, and unoccupied homes, said Sgt. Jim Andrews.

Andrews said the thefts primarily occurred between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in a concentrated area of Palafox Street east to Ninth Avenue and from Fairfield Drive south to Gonzalez Street.

The suspects and their latest charges are:

• Chrissie Marie McMillan, 30, of 1804 N. Hayne St., Pensacola. Charged with nine counts of fraud/false statement, two counts of grand theft; and nine counts of dealing in stolen property.
• Michael Edward Howard Jr., 33, of 504 E. Yonge St., Pensacola. Charged with 13 counts of grand theft damage over $1,000, 11 counts of dealing in stolen property, and four counts of burglary.
• James Wells, 55, of 200 E. Lakeview, Pensacola. Charged with two counts of fraud/false statement and two counts of dealing in stolen property.

Stackpole and Reese said Howard and McMillan were selling air-conditioning components to support drug habits, while Wells was involved to earn money for personal
expenses.

“Although the damage and replacement costs were over $100,000, the suspects received just under $2,900 selling the parts,” Andrews said.

Interviews, crime scene evidence and scrap records led to the arrests, said Andrews.

McMillan was initially arrested October 18 and charged with four counts of fraud/false statement, four counts of grand theft damage over $1,000, and three counts of dealing in stolen
property; Howard was initially arrested October 19 and charged with four counts of grand theft damage over $1,000 and two counts of dealing in stolen property; and Wells was initially arrested October 20 and charged with one count each of fraud/false statement and dealing in stolen property.

All three suspects had been in the Escambia County Jail since their arrests last month. The additional charges were served Tuesday.

McMillan was on probation for a similar charge after she was arrested by the Escambia  County Sheriff’s Office in April.

No charges will be filed on the four local businesses that accepted the air-conditioner parts because they complied with state law, which states sellers are required to sign a form
saying they are the rightful owner of the property and also present their identification at the time of transaction. In addition, the companies photographed the suspects as well as the items.

At this time, additional charges are not pending on the suspects, Andrews said.