From staff reports
A Franklin man was charged Monday in an incident that occurred in July in which he struck a gas pipe and caused it to leak, according to a criminal complaint filed by Sugarcreek police.
Brandon Paul Laing, 26, was driving his vehicle in a field in Franklin along Canal Drive when he struck a pipe near a pump house, causing it to leak, according to the complaint filed before District Judge Patrick E. Lowery.
After police were called to the scene on July 10, Laing’s father, Robert Laing, told police that his son had informed him as to what he had done, the complaint said.
Fire departments from Rocky Grove and Reno arrived at the scene and secured it, and then placed the leak under control, the complaint said.
When police talked to Brandon Laing later that day, the complaint said, he admitted to driving the vehicle and striking the gas line, causing it to leak.
According to a court docket, Brandon Laing was charged Monday with a felony charge of risking a catastrophe, a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, and summary charges of driving while operator privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without a license, driving a vehicle without required financial responsibility, accident damage to unattended vehicle or property, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving with vehicle registration suspended.
As of Wednesday, Laing has not been taken into custody.
