Man Arrested After Attempted AC Unit Theft at Iredell Church

A man was arrested early Thursday morning after deputies say he was caught attempting to steal air conditioning units from a church in northern Iredell County.

According to the Iredell County Sheriff's Office, a deputy was patrolling Houstonville Road around 2:45 a.m. when he pulled into Holly Springs Baptist Church to conduct a routine security check.

While checking the property, the deputy spotted a vehicle parked beside the church building and a man wearing a face mask and gloves standing behind it. Authorities say when the suspect noticed the deputy, he ran from the scene.

After a short foot pursuit, the suspect was taken into custody and identified as 35-year-old Jonathan Ryan Taylor of Harmony.

Investigators say Taylor had already destroyed two air conditioning units and was attempting to dismantle two others before he was interrupted.

Taylor is charged with felony larceny, felony injury to real property to obtain non-ferrous metals, and resisting a public officer.

His bond was set at $50,000 secured.