Man Who Allegedly Stole 58-Foot Pedestrian Bridge Going to Women's Shelter Charged

An Ohio man has been arrested and charged with felony theft in an unusual case that doesn't involve stolen cash or purses, but an entire 58-foot-long bridge.

The Akron bridge served as a crossing over a river in the Ohio city's Middlebury Run Park near Goodyear's world headquarters, but it was taken down years ago as part of a wetland restoration project. The bridge was stored on park property as officials planned to have it repurposed for use in a battered women's shelter project.

Police discovered in early November that the treated deck boards were missing from the bridge, which was described as having a Lego-like structure. About a week later, they discovered that the metal frame for the 10-foot-wide, 6-foot-tall structure had also disappeared.

Akron police asked the public for any information about the bridge's whereabouts in a Facebook post on December 10.

After receiving tips and other information, investigators designated 63-year-old David Bramley, who lives in neighboring Sharon Township as a person of interest, Akron police said in an update on Facebook posted Monday.

A team of police traveled to a Medina County property on Friday afternoon and used a search warrant to carry out an inspection of the area. They found the partially disassembled bridge on the property, Akron police said.

Bramley was arrested and charged with felony theft. Akron police said in the Facebook update that receiving several tips and developing additional information was "critical to the case."

"Members of the Akron Police Department work tirelessly every day, to foster and strengthen relationships, while enhancing public trust throughout the community," police said in the Facebook update. "Utilizing the spirit of those partnerships, detectives, along with law enforcement personnel from neighboring jurisdictions, were able to help locate the stolen bridge and bring this investigation to a close."

Police did not immediately provide any information on why Bramley allegedly stole the bridge.

Authorities allege that he paid a trucking company for crane service and the firm picked up the bridge and took it to Medina County.

The suspect was scheduled for arraignment later this week in Akron Municipal Court. An official said Monday he has no attorney yet. Listed phone numbers for him were not in service.

The bridge is expected to be shipped back to Akron in coming days, police said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.