BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LOVELY — A woman was arrested Thursday after authorities say she illegally reconnected her home to the power grid.

Mary Ayers, 46, of Lovely, was on Bluejay Lane on charges of theft of services and resisting arrest, Martin County Sheriff John Kirk said.

According to the sheriff, Ayers had illegally reconnected her home to American Electric Power after her service had been disconnected. Authorities said she bypassed the meter base by tapping directly into the power line, creating a potential fire hazard.

“The garage and house could have burned due to this illegal hookup,” Sheriff Kirk said.

AEP crews arrived at the scene and removed the unauthorized connection.

When law enforcement attempted to take Ayers into custody, she refused to open the door despite being informed she was under arrest. Officers ultimately entered the home, where Ayers continued to resist, the sheriff said.

In addition to the theft and resisting arrest charges, Ayers was cited for violating air pollution regulations. The sheriff said deputies responded to a complaint about a large fire in her driveway where she was allegedly burning household waste, including plastic, which emitted a strong odor.