Sheriff’s officials in Adams County are asking for the public’s help in solving an incident of theft. Early this (Wednesday) morning, the Southwest Iowa Rural Iowa REC’s warehouse on the north edge of Corning, was broken into. The sheriff’s office says after further investigation, they believe a person or persons parked about one-half mile away on a gravel road, and walked to the warehouse, where they pried open a back door.

Once inside, the thieves took 2 rolls of solid #6 wire, 2 rolls of #6 stranded wire, and 2 rolls of #4 stranded wire. They also took a white 2010 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup truck. Officials say the suspects threw the REC employees’ work bags on the floor and loaded the wire. They then drove the truck down the road and parked on the side of the road, where they unloaded the wire. The vehicle, which was left at the scene, did not sustain any damage.

An inventory was being conducted at the warehouse to determine if any additional materials were missing. If you have information with regard to the crime, contact the Adams County Sheriff’s Office at 641-322-4444.

The Atlantic Police Department reports a local woman was arrested Tuesday on a warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 40-year old Samantha Susann Lawton, of Atlantic, was brought to the Cass County Jail and held pending a court appearance.

A Denison man arrested last month on burglary and criminal mischief charges is free on bond, with his trial set to take place next month. 20-year old Winston Joseph Leal was charged in connection with an incident which occurred in Harlan on October 27^th. Leal allegedly kicked in the walk-in door of a garage at 411 6th St. in Harlan. While in the garage, he allegedly took a sub woofer box containing three 10-inch speakers, and destroyed a 50-inch, flat-screen television, valued at $1,300.

Leal  faces felony charges of burglary in the third-degree, and second-degree criminal mischief. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail, with additional fines totaling $10,000.  Leal posted a $10,000 bond last Friday (December 2^nd), and is scheduled to appear at his trial on January 31^st in Shelby County District Court. 

In addition, Leal has pled not guilty to a charge filed in November, of Interference with Official Acts. The offense allegedly happened on November 14^th. His trial on that Serious Misdemeanor charge will take place May 8^th, 2012.