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Arrest made in Bluffs home invasion & assault

News

October 18th, 2012 by Ric Hanson

Council Bluffs Police say one person is in custody, while two others are still on the run, in connection with a home invasion incident that resulted in injuries to two brothers. According to the Council Bluffs Daily Non Pareil, 30-year old David Bergantzel, was arrested last week on first-degree kidnapping, second-degree kidnapping, and first-degree burglary charges, along with three counts of assault while participating in a felony, two counts of willful injury causing serious injury and going armed with intent. Bergantzel was being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail on $250,000 bond. If convicted on the felony kidnapping charge, he faces a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The charges stem from his alleged role during the incident on the city’s west side on October 5th. Police reports said at the time, that intruders burst through the door of a home owned by 70-year old Marcella Doss, sometime between 7:15-a.m. and 7:30-a.m.  Doss’ sons, 41-year old Rodney,  and 49-year old Raymond, were injured in the attack.

The paper cites court documents that says Rodney Doss heard something at the backdoor of the residence and assumed it was his dog. As he walked toward the door, it was kicked in, and a man pointed a gun at his face.  The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun.  All three intruders wore ski masks. One of them repeatedly shot Rodney Doss with the pellet gun.  Rodney attempted to hold the men off at his mother’s bedroom door, before he was tackled to the ground. Once on the ground, he was hit with a crowbar and a jack handle. During the fight however, he was able to pull the ski mask off of one of the men before suffering a wound to his head from the crowbar.

After he was treated at the hospital. Doss identified Bergantzel as one of the suspects, in a photo lineup. He also said the man was the same one who used the crowbar against him. Bergantzel is also alleged to have struck Raymond Doss with the crowbar causing an open wound on his shoulder and two injured ankles.

Police say the incident remains under investigation.