Sheriff’s officials in southern Iowa’s Decatur County report two suspects being sought in connection with burglaries in Montgomery and Ringgold Counties, have been arrested thanks to an observant resident. Authorities say that at around 10:50-a.m. Thursday, the Decatur County dispatch center received a call from a Leon resident  saying that there were two suspicious individuals at his residence.

The citizen said he had seen various press releases on social media from other counties west of Decatur that residents should be on the lookout for a maroon GMC Yukon occupied by a black male and a black female, and recognized the vehicle and occupants from those posts. Leon Police Chief, Jason Weir and Chief Deputy Chris Lane were able to locate the vehicle and initiate a traffic stop north of Leon on Highway 69, near J20.

Burglary suspects

During the traffic stop Clarke County Chief Deputy Lucas Darby arrived on scene with his K9, Diesel. Diesel “hit” on the vehicle, indicating the presence of an illegal substance. Soon thereafter, officers were able to identify items that had been reported stolen in Montgomery and Decatur County, Iowa. The three occupants of the vehicle were identified as 28-year old Victor Lamont Gaston, of Warner Robins, Georgia; 29-year old Jenea Yervone Gaston, of Macon, Georgia; and 25-year old Ja Shawn Lamar Clayborne, of Toledo, Ohio and were detained for further investigation.

Upon execution of a search warrant of the vehicle, officers located item reported as stolen from Decatur, Ringgold and Montgomery Counties along with several other items believed to have been stolen but not yet identified. Information obtained during the search of the vehicle led officers to a Motel 6 in St. Joseph, Missouri where numerous other items of stolen property were located.

Each of the three suspects have been charged with Burglary in the Third Degree and two counts of Possession of Stolen Property in Decatur County and are awaiting their initial appearance before a Judge. Additional Burglary charges has also been filed in Montgomery County, Iowa and their bond has been set at $40,000 cash on each.

Agencies involved in the investigation include the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department, the Leon Police Department, Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, the Osceola Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Motor Vehicle Enforcement, the Drug and Narcotic Enforcement Agency and the St. Joseph, Missouri Police Department. The matter remains under investigation. If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department at 641-446-4111.