Rock Rapids, Iowa — The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details surrounding the recent burglary at the Lyon County Courthouse.
Sheriff Brian Hilt says the sheriff’s office had no prior interactions with the suspects. Investigators believe that the individuals only had a distant connection to the area and were previously inside the courthouse. They say the specific motive to commit the crime is unclear, as anything beyond opportunity is speculative.
The investigation led law enforcement across state lines. Sheriff Hilt says assistance from the FBI was requested because of the suspects’ movement into possible reservation land in South Dakota. Their cooperation helped authorities identify and locate the suspects.
According to the sheriff’s office, investigators learned the suspects had traveled to the area of Whitewood and were later located in Spearfish after a vehicle was reported stolen. The suspects were taken into custody shortly after 1 a.m. on December 20th.
The suspects are currently held in South Dakota awaiting extradition to Lyon County. The timing of the transfer is still uncertain, as it could depend on whether state charges in South Dakota must be addressed first.
The total cost of damage at the courthouse has not yet been determined. Warrants were filed once investigators determined that the damage threshold for criminal charges had been met. A final cost will be calculated once cleanup and repairs are completed.
Sheriff Hilt also expressed that personal information may have been compromised during the burglary. He says departments are reviewing video footage and records, but any potential exposure appears to be limited and does not include Social Security numbers.
The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office says additional information will be released as it becomes available.
KIWA Staff Photo
(Courtesy fellow Community First Broadcasting station KSOU in Sioux Center)
