Criminal Mischief Ruins $5,500 in BBQ

Back Porch Barbecue in La Grange lost $5,500 in spoiled food and other damage after a man allegedly shut off their electricity overnight.

The business discovered the loss after finding the man asleep on the front porch of the restaurant on Monday, April 11. Workers called La Grange Police.

Officer Brett Meinardus responded to the restaurant, located at 1602 N. Jefferson St. (US 77). Meinardus woke up the man, identified as 47-yearold Christopher Ponder, formerly of Kentucky and Henderson, Texas, and now residing in La Grange.

La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath said surveillance video from Back Porch showed that Ponder turned off the electricity to the restaurant on Sunday, April 10. Gilbreath said Back Porch lost approximately $5,500 in spoiled food and other products that were inside the refrigerators.

Police arrested Ponder for criminal mischief in an amount greater than $2,500 and less than $30,000.

Ponder was transported and booked into the Dan R. Beck Justice Center.