(Updated 10:10-a.m. w/more details)

A woman from Guthrie County was arrested last Thursday after hiding in a most unusual place: her oven. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office reports a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 800 block of Ashton Avenue, in Guthrie Center. As a result of the search warrant, 25-year old Gabrielle Looper was arrested on an outstanding arrest warrant for probation violation. Deputy Kent Gries, with the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office, told KJAN News the woman was taken into custody without incident, but not before authorities encountered some obstacles.

Gries said they first had to force entry into the mobile home using a prybar. When they made entry, they were greeted by a couple of vicious dogs. One of the deputies was bitten by a canine in the home. Instead of using lethal force to subdue the dogs, authorities used a fire extinguisher to force them back.

Once inside, deputies conducted a slow, methodical search. Gries said they knew Looper was in the home based on her medical history. She had just given birth three weeks ago. He says their first priority was to find the baby. Deputies secured the baby and spread out throughout the house, where they found Looper hiding in the oven.

The door to the oven was closed. Gries said authorities had received intelligence beforehand indicating they were likely to find her there. There were actually two ovens in the trailer house, which was a dead giveaway something was amiss, according to Gries. One of the ovens was non-functional and was specially modified so the bottom could hide a person.

32-year old Joseph Crawford was also arrested at the scene, for interference with official acts. Both were transported to the Guthrie County Jail. The Iowa State Patrol and Panora Police Department assisted in executing the search warrant. The child was voluntarily turned by over by Looper, to her grandmother. Gries said they took a picture of the unusual oven because it serves as a reminder that people will go to extreme lengths to hide themselves from authorities, in order to avoid prosecution.

Image from the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.