Cell Tower News: Death, theft and the imminent lawsuit

Texas death could result in lawsuit

Earlier this year it was reported that Stephanie Gurney fell to her death from a cell tower in San Angelo, Texas, but at the time details surrounding the situation were unclear. With a potential lawsuit in the air, further details have emerged. According to reports, the woman was the girlfriend of a tower climber. She was considering going into the tower-climbing profession herself, so her boyfriend and his boss at Jostan Communications, Joseph Grimes, were on site with her, assessing her climbing abilities. This was her first climb. According to Grimes, “We went through safety measures on the ground, before we even got on the tower.”

But then something went wrong. After Grimes climbed and descended successfully, he was checking his phone when he heard a “horrific” scream from the boyfriend, followed by the sound of Gurney hitting the ground. While 911 was called immediately, it was too late. Gurney was pronounced dead upon arrival at the local area hospital. An investigation into the incident was opened.

In his report of what happened, Concho County Deputy Sheriff Abel Quezada was informed by Grimes, while looking at the harness, that the hook was not properly attached. Quezada then said Grimes “reached for the harness, at which time I (Quezada) informed him that he had to leave it alone. He asked me if he could show me the way it should be hooked. I told Mr. Grimes we had to leave it the way it was.”

Suspicious activity or an innocent commentary? That much is uncertain right now. No formal lawsuit has been filed either, but Gurney’s family has hired a lawyer to look into the potential for a wrongful death lawsuit. More on this story as it develops.

This is certainly not the first mention of cell tower death-related lawsuits this year, with several announced recently in connection to the 2014 collapse of a cell tower in West Virginia.

Three arrested in tower thefts

As the number of cell towers proliferates across the country, so do the amount of thefts of precious materials associated with these costly structures. A few months ago, RCR Wireless News reported on a string of thefts that took place in the New England area; this time the action has moved south to the Carolinas. Three people were arrested in connection with theft from cell towers in both North Carolina and South Carolina.

First up is John Aldridge of North Carolina, who was staying in South Carolina when he was arrested on grounds of allegedly being a fugitive from justice. The man is charged with six counts of felony larceny, one felony count of breaking and entering and three felony counts of possession of stolen goods. There’s also some misdemeanors for injury to personal property, injury to real property and interfering with an electronic monitoring device. The charges are related to alleged thefts from towers in Iron Station, N.C. The total property loss from his alleged crimes exceeds $150,000. Air-conditioning units and tower wires were the primary items stolen.

But, like most thieves, he had accomplices, in the form of Brandon Kirby and Penny Moore Self. The two are charged with larceny and possession of stolen goods (gotta store those goods somewhere) among other things. All three are currently locked away in different locations.