Investigators say the victim wore an ankle monitor and was identified days later.
JACKSON, MS — A man died Friday, Dec. 5, after a utility pole broke and live wires fell during what Jackson police say was an attempted copper theft on Greenhill Place near Medical Plaza. First responders found the victim beneath downed lines around 4:30 p.m., and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police and fire crews said a preliminary review points to a failed climb up a wooden pole to reach copper wiring. The case drew added attention because the man was wearing an ankle monitor, which detectives used to help confirm his identity after he was found without identification. Authorities said copper thefts have strained utilities and first responders, and investigators are working to determine what led up to the incident and whether anyone else was involved. The Hinds County coroner’s office is overseeing death investigation protocols and next-of-kin notifications.
Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Greenhill Place shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 for a report of an electrocution. The initial 911 call described an elderly woman on the ground under a wire. When police, firefighters and homicide detectives arrived, they determined the victim was a man, dressed in women’s clothing, lying beneath electrical lines from a broken pole. Detective Tommie Brown, a public information officer, said the pole “broke, the victim fell down, got caught in the wire, the wire electrocuted him, he caught fire.” Crews kept their distance until power technicians could de-energize the line before approaching the body, officials said.
Investigators said the victim had no ID but wore an ankle monitor on one leg, a clue that indicated he was under court supervision. Detectives began working with monitoring records to verify his name. On Wednesday, Dec. 10, police identified the man as 34-year-old Russell Houston of Jackson. The interim Hinds County coroner reported that Houston suffered severe burns and a broken leg consistent with a fall and electrocution. Authorities said no utility workers or bystanders were hurt. It was not immediately known whether anyone else was present when the pole failed, and investigators did not say who owned the line involved.
Police said the sequence began when the man attempted to scale the pole, apparently to strip copper wiring. The wooden pole snapped, sending him to the ground while energized lines fell across him. Firefighters, mobile crime investigators and the coroner responded alongside police. Officials said they originally treated the scene as an unidentified death because of the lack of ID and the initial confusion over the caller’s description. Detectives canvassed the area near Greenhill Place and nearby offices on Medical Plaza Drive for witnesses and surveillance video that might show the approach to the pole or any vehicle tied to the man.
Jackson officials noted that wire thefts—often targeting copper for resale—continue to damage infrastructure and trigger dangerous scenes for first responders. In recent years, law enforcement agencies across central Mississippi have reported spikes in thefts from streetlights, HVAC units and utility sites, prompting calls for scrap dealers to check sellers’ documentation. Police said the circumstances Friday fit that pattern: a noncommercial location, an unsecured wooden pole and an attempt to remove wiring without specialized equipment. Investigators emphasized that electrocutions can occur even after a fall if lines remain energized and contact persists, which they said appeared to happen here as crews waited for power to be cut.
Detectives said standard procedures include recovering the ankle monitor’s serial number, requesting monitoring logs and confirming identity through the supervising agency. Police said they will also review any open cases or probation terms associated with the device. As of Thursday, no charges were filed and no suspects were named. Officials said the case remains an unattended death pending the coroner’s findings. If additional parties are identified—such as a driver who dropped the man off—investigators could pursue related charges based on the facts, police said. The city did not announce a specific time for a briefing, but officials said updates would be provided if the investigation reveals new information.
Neighbors described a frantic scene as sirens converged on the block and crews stretched caution tape around the downed pole. One resident said smoke rose from the grass under the lines as firefighters kept passersby back from the curb. Brown called the death “one of the most senseless” incidents the department has handled this month, saying people “know it’s dangerous” to tamper with utility gear yet still take the risk. The coroner’s office said the confirmation of identity allowed staff to begin contacting relatives Wednesday afternoon. By sunset, investigators had finished documenting the site and removed the body for further examination.
As of Friday, Dec. 12, police list the investigation as ongoing. Detectives are awaiting full reports from the coroner and any monitoring records tied to Houston’s ankle device. Officials said the next milestone is the release of the coroner’s report and any follow-up statements from Jackson police early next week.
Author note: Last updated December 12, 2025.