Charges have been filed against a man in connection to a burglary at Ace Hardware in Storm Lake earlier this year, and he has also been linked to similar incidents in Iowa and other states.
Early in the morning on January 28th, Storm Lake Police responded to an automated burglary alarm at Ace Hardware located at 1405 North Lake Avenue. Officers discovered that front glass entry doors were shattered, and approximately $2,850 in merchandise was missing from the store. Police searched the area, and no suspects were immediately located.
An investigation was launched, and police alleged similar burglaries and thefts had occurred in the tri-state area of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Through the investigation, a male suspect, 45-year-old Adam Nelson of Sioux City, was identified.
Storm Lake Police eventually obtained a search warrant at a Rock Rapids residence, which was executed by multiple agencies on June 15th. During the search, approximately 14-thousand dollars worth of various tools were located that were allegedly stolen from theft incidents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Minnesota. Controlled substances including marijuana and methamphetamine were also located.
Nelson was taken into custody by Lyon County Deputies on drug-related charges, as well as two Sioux County warrants for 5th Degree Theft, a simple misdemeanor, and Probation Violation.
Last Thursday, September 1st, the Storm Lake Police Department filed criminal charges against Nelson including On Going Criminal Conduct, a class B felony…and 2nd Degree Theft and 3rd Degree Burglary, both class D felonies.
Nelson was originally held at the Lyon County Jail, pending extradition to Buena Vista County.
