LIBERTYVILLE —
Two Libertyville men and two Ottumwans are in jail following a burglary investigation and a chase eluding law enforcement last week.
At approximately 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a burglary that had occurred earlier in the day at a residence on 140th Avenue north of Ottumwa.
At about 3:23 a.m. Thursday, the sheriff’s office helped the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office chase a vehicle eluding officers west of Fairfield and continuing west on U.S. Highway 34.
Wapello County sheriff’s deputies deployed stop sticks, and the vehicle was stopped north of Agency on Agency-Hedrick Road. The driver, Carter Shepard, 25, of Ottumwa, was charged with reckless driving as well as felon in possession of a firearm, a Class D felony, and eluding law enforcement.
“When the deputies did the investigation of the burglary, then later on Thursday in the early morning hours during the pursuit, they were able to tie [Shepard] in to things located in the car with what was reported stolen,” said Wapello County Chief Deputy Sheriff Don Phillips.
As a result of the burglary investigation in Wapello County on Wednesday and the investigation and arrest of Shepard the following morning, deputies were able to obtain a search warrant for a residence in Libertyville. The search warrant was executed on Thursday and as a result, several stolen items were recovered, which stemmed from burglaries in both Wapello and Jefferson counties.
Michael Bibby Jr., 27, and Joseph Bibby, 26, who both lived in the Libertyville home, as well as Amber LaDouceur, 24, of Ottumwa, were each charged with possession of stolen property, a Class D felony.
Phillips did not comment on what stolen items were recovered but said they were discovered in the back of Shepard’s vehicle and in the Libertyville residence.
Jefferson County Chief Deputy Sheriff Bart Richmond said some of the items recovered were from a burglary in Libertyville on Dec. 28.
“It was a theft from an unlocked garage,” Richmond said. “They loaded a lot of tools into a John Deere Gator utility vehicle. We have not found the Gator yet.”
Richmond said if anyone has any information on the location of the Gator, they can call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 641-472-4146.
Both Jefferson County and Wapello County anticipate additional charges will be pressed in the ongoing investigation.
All four suspects are being held on $10,000 cash-only bond in Jefferson County Jail.
The preliminary hearings for Michael Bibby Jr., Joseph Bibby and LaDouceur are all scheduled for Jan. 14; Shepard’s arraignment is set for Jan. 22.
Shepard was previously charged with third-degree burglary and probation violation in 2007.
Michael Bibby Jr. was previously charged with third-degree burglary and probation violation in 2003, second-degree theft in 2004, second-degree burglary, third-degree burglary and probation violation in 2007 and felon in possession of a firearm and second-degree theft in August 2012.
Joseph Bibby was previously charged with felon in possession of a firearm and second-degree theft in August 2012.
Wapello County
January 7, 2013
Four arrested following pursuit, burglary investigation
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