Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Rock Valley man has been arrested on a warrant for felony burglary and theft charges after an alleged break-in in George four years ago.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the county sheriff’s office, 33-year-old David Burton Jr. of Rock Valley is accused of breaking into the Last Call Saloon in George and taking money back in October of 2020. He was arrested on a warrant on Tuesday.
In his statement, the deputy says that the break-in occurred on October 8th, 2020. On the bar’s camera’s footage, he says someone could be seen using a key to get in the front door. He says the suspect went immediately to the back storage room door and tried to use a key to get in. When the key did not work he broke in using his shoulder. The deputy says the suspect, later identified as Burton, located a small safe in the back of the room and entered the code. He obtained the money bags from the safe and exited the building to the rear. The deputy says Burton was in the building for only about four minutes. The amount stolen isn’t mentioned, but the theft charge that Burton faces is for people accused of stealing between $1500 and $10,000.
The deputy says the bartenders and owner were able to identify the suspect from the footage as numerous people including his own mother recognized him from a still shot captured from the footage. There is also footage of Burton from the Grand Falls Casino near Larchwood from earlier that same evening, and the deputy says Burton was wearing the same clothes during the break-in.
Burton was charged with second-degree theft and third-degree burglary, both class D felonies. If convicted, he could face a total of up to ten years in prison.
He faces a court appearance on December 16th.
At last report, Burton remained in the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids in lieu of a $6,000 cash or surety bond.
