Rock Rapids, Iowa — Two vehicles were reported stolen in two days in Rock Rapids, and some money was taken from a restaurant. And authorities believe the thefts are related.
Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rob Ver Meer says it all started with a traffic stop in Larchwood on Wednesday.
According to the sheriff’s office, on Wednesday, January 9th, about 10:35 a.m., their deputies responded to a call at Subway in Rock Rapids. The call stated that two males had just stolen money and they took off running from the store. A short time later the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office received a call that a 2000 Ford F150 pickup had been stolen from the 100 block of north Story Street in Rock Rapids. The sheriff’s office reports that about an hour later the 2000 Ford F150 was stopped by the Minnesota State Patrol and the two males were arrested. They were identified as 25-year-old Nicholas Stone of Brainerd, Minnesota and 23-year-old Marcus Maurstad of Onamia, Minnesota. At last report, they were being held in the Nobles County, Minnesota Jail. Warrants have been issued for Stone and Maurstad on charges of theft in the Fourth Degree, a Serious Misdemeanor and Theft in the Second Degree, which is a Class D Felony.
The sheriff’s office reports that the female was identified as 22-year-old Shakyra Charmain Johnson of Brainerd, Minnesota. Her charges at the time of her traffic stop and arrest near Larchwood included Fifth Degree Theft and Providing False Identification Information (both simple misdemeanors) along with traffic violations. Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep says Johnson has been charged with Second Degree Theft, a class D felony in connection with the theft of the vehicle.
The vehicle believed to have been stolen by Johnson was reported stolen at 10:25 a.m. on Thursday, January 10th. The caller stated that a 2006 Buick Rendevouz had been stolen from the Sunshine parking lot in Rock Rapids. The vehicle was later recovered in Hills, Minnesota by the Rock County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office says the incident is still under investigation.
Rock County Sheriff Even Verbrugge says they received the call about a possible stolen vehicle about noon on Thursday. That vehicle had been stolen from the Hills, Minnesota area in their county. When the deputy got there, he found the Buick Rendezvous that was stolen from Lyon County earlier in the morning. The new vehicle that was stolen was a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe belonging to a Chris Harnack of Hills. Rock County deputies believe that Johnson entered a residence owned by Colter Duetsch of Hills and took miscellaneous items from inside the home. Johnson was eventually arrested in Nobles County, where Verbrugge says she had stolen another vehicle from Adrian. He says she’s also accused of a gas drive off at a gas station in Brandon, South Dakota as well. He says the Harnack vehicle and the Duetsch miscellaneous items were recovered.
Lyon County Chief Deputy Ver Meer says he would assume charges are pending in Nobles County as well, but no information was available from the Nobles County Sheriff’s Office.
******************************************
Original Story, posted Jan 11, 2019 at 11:25 a.m.:
Rock Rapids, Iowa — Two vehicles were reported stolen in two days in Rock Rapids, and some money was taken from a restaurant. And authorities believe the thefts are related.
Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Rob Ver Meer says it all started with a traffic stop in Larchwood on Wednesday.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office reports that the female was identified as 22-year-old Shaykra Charmain Johnson of Brainerd, Minnesota. Her charges included Fifth Degree Theft and Providing False Identification Information (both simple misdemeanors) along with traffic violations after the traffic stop. Ver Meer did not say if Johnson had been charged regarding the vehicle theft or identify the two male passengers or any charges they may now face.
This is a developing story. We hope to provide more information as it becomes available.
