A Florida man and a Washington state man were arrested shortly after midnight Wednesday after Dallas County deputies responded to a reported burglary alarm in the Dallas County Courthouse at 908 Court St. in Adel.
Gary Edward Demercurio, 43, of Seattle, Wash., and Justin Lawson Wynn, 29, of Naples, Fla., were charged with third-degree burglary and possession of burglary tools.
According to court documents, the out of staters were allegedly visible “walking around on the third floor of the courthouse” prior to the deputies’ arrival.
“The two males came to the door,” according to records, and said “they were contracted to break into the building for Iowa courts to check the security of the building.”
Since the sheriff’s office was unaware of any such arrangements with the courthouse security company and the men were found in possession of burglary tools, they were taken into custody.
“It’s a strange case,” said Dallas County Sheriff Chad Leonard Wednesday. “We’re still investigating this thing.”
Demercurio is held at the Dallas County Jail on a $57,000 cash or surety bond.
Wynn is held at the Dallas County Jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
