Arrest warrants have been issued in thefts from five garages and two vehicle thefts in Jefferson in late September.
Barry Arthur Downs, 20, of Nevada and Erin Michelle Burnie, 34, of Jefferson have multiple charges against them.
The first theft, a vehicle theft, was reported early Monday morning, Sept. 22. At 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier was reported as stolen from a garage at 608 N. Locust St sometime during the overnight hours. At 4:30 Friday morning, Sept. 26, a resident reported a vehicle with broken out windows parked in the 300 block of N. Olive St. It was the stolen Cavalier. Later that morning, at 6:49, a 1998 Ford Explorer was reported as stolen from a garage at 307 W. State St. According to Jefferson police chief Dave Morlan, both vehicles were unlocked with the keys in the vehicle when they were stolen.
Burglaries to garages were reported as well. On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the theft of a weed eater and air compressor from a garage at 300 N. Maple St was reported. On Wednesday, JPD officers took a complaint of a burglary to a garage at 803 N. Wilson. Several power tools and an air compressor were reported as having been stolen overnight on Sept. 22.
Officers were busy Friday. Shortly after responding to the vehicle theft on W. State St, they were called for a burglary to a garage at 200 E. Clark St. An estimated $1,400 in tools was reported stolen.
At 8:03 am the police took a report of the theft of tires and rims from 701 N. Cedar St. Estimated value was $2,340. That theft was the undoing for Downs and Burnie. There was heavy dew that morning, and JPD officer Kyle DeMoss was able to follow tracks in the dewy grass to a residence nearby at 500 E. Clark St. There were enough tracks to indicate several trips were made between the two residences.
DeMoss obtained a search warrant to look for the rims and tires at the house, garage, and shed at 500 E. Clark. The warrant was executed by DeMoss, JPD officer Nick Sorensen, Greene County sheriff’s deputy Kirk Hammer. They located the rims and tires listed in the search warrant in the garage. While conducting a security sweep of the garage, preliminary court information states, the officers found the stolen Ford Explorer and parts from the stolen Cavalier.
DeMoss next obtained a search warrant to continue to look for other stolen items in the house. Stolen items, as well as marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were found during the search of the house.
Also on Friday afternoon, power tools were reported as stolen from Sloan Plumbing and Heating’s shop at 201 S. Cedar St. Those items were located during the search warrant, as were items taken from a vehicle reported stolen in Ames. Property from the Jefferson burglaries was later located in Tama.
Warrants have been issued charging Barry Arthur Downs, 20, of Nevada with ongoing criminal conduct – Class B felony, four counts of theft- second degree- Class D felony, five counts of burglary-third degree- Class D felony, criminal mischief- second degree – Class D felony, two counts of theft- third degree – aggravated misdemeanor, theft-fourth degree-serious misdemeanor, possession of stolen property- fifth degree- simple misdemeanor, possession of a controlled substance- to wit methamphetamine- first offense- serious misdemeanor, possession of a controlled substance- to wit marijuana- first offense- serious misdemeanor and possession of drug paraphernalia*.
Warrants have been issued for Erin Michelle Burnie, 34, of Jefferson charging her with ongoing criminal conduct, five counts of burglary- third degree, three counts of theft- second degree, two counts theft third degree, theft- fourth degree, possession of stolen property- fifth degree, possession of a controlled substance- first offense 1st offense, possession of a controlled substance – to wit marijuana – first offense – serious misdemeanor and possession of drug paraphernalia*.
*Note: All charges are merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
