Suspect In Lyon County, Other Burglaries Arrested In Polk County

Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Wisconsin man who is suspected of being involved in more than twenty-five burglaries across the state of Iowa, including a half dozen in Lyon County, has been arrested in Altoona, Iowa.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says 43-year old Eric Robert Hall is accused of forcing his way into several businesses in Iowa and Minnesota late at night when the businesses were closed. The DCI says the burglar would steal primarily cash from the businesses.

According to the DCI, through cooperation and information sharing, law enforcement officials were able to identify Hall as the suspect in these crimes. Hall reportedly also had an outstanding warrant from the State of Wisconsin for Probation Violation.

Warrants had been filed for Hall’s arrest by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Council Bluffs Police. Lyon County Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep tells KIWA the Lyon County warrant stems from his office’s investigation into a series of burglaries in Larchwood and Inwood that happened during the early morning hours this past November 27th.

According to the DCI, on Wednesday of this week, an off-duty Guthrie County Deputy located Hall at the Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona. The Deputy notified Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded and attempted to arrest Hall on his outstanding warrants. Officials say Hall initially resisted arrest, but was taken into custody. Polk County authorities have charged Hall with 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and Interference With Officials Acts, according to the DCI, in addition to the charges he faces in Lyon County and Council Bluffs.

The DCI will be spearheading the ongoing investigations, in cooperation with numerous Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments across the state, according to Sheriff Vander Stoep.

The images below show a still photo taken from a security camera at one of the burglarized Lyon County businesses, the second is Hall’s booking photo………………