(Royal)– Charges have been filed against seven people in connection with a break-in in the early morning of July 22nd at a Royal grocery store.
Based on their investigation, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office Monday arrested three suspects in direct connection to the burglary; two others were arrested on various charges related to the burglary; one person was arrested on an active Clay county warrant and one was arrested in connection with a stolen vehicle from O’Brien county.
Those arrested include 18-year-old Drew Lane of Spencer and 20-year-old Dylan Schmidt of Terril. They were charged with burglary in the third degree, theft in the second degree and operation without the owner’s consent.
16-year-old Matthew Back of rural Hartley was charged with two counts of burglary in the third degree; theft in the second degree; operation without the owner’s consent; eluding; failure to yield to an emergency vehicle; driving under suspension; and speeding.
Other arrests include 23-year-old Joe Engelkes and 18-year-old Catherine Baker, both of Spencer. They were charged with accessory after the fact, aiding burglary in the third degree; and theft in the fifth degree…possession of stolen property.
16-year-old Matthew Murphy of Hartley was charged with burglary in the third degree and theft in the second degree…possession of stolen property; and 20-year-old Joshua Norgart of Spencer was charged with failure to appear.
Back and Murphy were apprehended after leading authorities on a high speed chase after stealing a vehicle near Paullina and driving to Clay county where the pursuit began.
All the adults were booked into the Clay county jail; the juveniles were apprehended and also face charges in O’Brien county. They were transported to the Youth Emergency Services Center in Cherokee.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the investigation by the Spencer Police Department, O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol and the Hartley Police Department.
