A two-state investigation led to the arrest of a local metal thief, said Caddo Sheriff Steve Prator.

Glen Lee Merrell, 30, of Keithville, was booked into the Caddo Correctional Center this morning following an investigation by Sheriff's Detective Terry Richardson.

Merrell was arrested for the burglary of Clarke's Allied, a welding fabrication shop at 10355 Linwood Avenue. The business was broken into on October 12. Over 2,800 feet of copper welding leads were cut from machines and stolen, along with a laptop computer that was taken from the office.

During the investigation, Caddo detectives received information from the Panola County Sheriff's Office that Merrell was selling large amounts of scrap metal and thousands of pounds of copper in Carthage. Detectives also located the laptop, which connected Merrell to the burglary.