Law enforcement has busy week

Howard County - Several incidents have taken place over the past week in Howard County.

Elma: Elma Locker & Grocery Inc. was broken into Tuesday, Feb. 20 around 2:37 a.m. Owner Roger Meirick received a call from his security company and missed the perpetrators by minutes, according to Howard County Sheriff Deputy Tim Beckman. “He would have made it if it hadn’t been icy.”

The only thing found stolen were six cartons of menthol cigarettes. 

Anyone with information, should contact the Sheriff’s Office at 563-547-3535.

Cresco: Police Chief Tim Ruroden confirmed a homeless gentleman was pronounced dead behind the Can House at 330 Grove Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 21. 

It is suspected Merlin Gottschalk, age 75, had been deceased for about a week before he was found.

Ruroden believes Gottschalk has lived in the area, out of his car, for about 10 years. No foul play is suspected, but is still under investigation by Cresco Police Department.

Lime Springs: The Sheriff’s Department was called to the 200 block of East Main St. in Lime Springs after video footage was caught of someone testing garage and car doors in the southeast section of town during the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 25, around 3:40 a.m.

Deputy Beckman stated, “The Howard County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a subject who gained entry into two vehicles, although nothing was noticed missing.”

Beckman said video surveillance systems and trail cams are more and more popular.