Rock Rapids, Iowa — Law enforcement officers are investigating a crime scene at the Lyon County Courthouse in Rock Rapids today.
According to Lyon County Sheriff Brian Hilt, during the overnight hours Tuesday into Wednesday (December 16th-17th), the courthouse was burglarized. He tells us entry was made into the courthouse, and multiple areas of the courthouse were significantly damaged. Damage includes things such as writing on walls, broken glass, knocked down Christmas trees, and items thrown around.
He says the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office was contacted this morning by a county employee who had arrived at the courthouse and observed evidence of the burglary.
Deputies from the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and State Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol responded, searched the building, and are processing the scene.
To preserve the integrity of the crime scene and allow time for cleaning, the courthouse has been closed to the public for the remainder of the week, says the sheriff.
He tells us the building was not occupied by any county employees during the time of the crime, and there were no injuries to the public.
At last report, no suspect or suspects were in custody, but suspect information is planned to be released later today. At that time, a few photographs will be released of the damage as well, says Sheriff Hilt.
He says that due to the ongoing investigation, information will be released as they are able, but nothing further is being released at this time.
If anyone has information they’d like to report, Lyon County officials are asking you to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 712-472-8300.
An email from the 3rd Judicial District, which covers several counties in northwest Iowa, including Lyon, says that due to the closure of the Lyon County Courthouse, electronic court filings for that county will be processed in the interim by the Osceola County Clerk of Court’s Office. The notice also states that anyone with a scheduled court date at the Lyon County Courthouse should also contact the Osceola County Clerk of Court at 712-754-3595.
Thanks to Carson Schubert, KSOU, and Steve Schwaller, KUOO, for their collaboration on this story.
KIWA Staff Photo
