Three area men arrested in connection with LeClaire burglaries

By Jeff Montgomery
NSP Staff Writer

Three area men have been arrested in connection with a pair of LeClaire burglaries that occurred in the first week of October.

The arrests came on the heels of a two-month investigation into break-ins at Big River Antiques and Mississippi Cottage Antiques, both located in LeClaire.

The LeClaire Police Department on Dec. 14 conducted a search warrant in Bettendorf which led to the arrests of Eric Douglas Gugelmeyer, 40, and Gustav Josef Schmidt, 19. Following the Bettendorf search, deputies arrested Andrew James O’Rourke, 20, in LeClaire.

Gugelmeyer has been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony and felony theft. Schmidt has been charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, felony theft, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a prescription medication. O’Rourke was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of prescription medication.

The LeClaire police department was assisted by members of the Bettendorf Police Department, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Metropolitan Enforcement Group, Quad City Federal Gang Task Force, and the Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.

LeClaire Police Chief Shane Themas confirmed that approximately 70 percent of the stolen merchandise was recovered in Rock Island. Themas said the investigation is still ongoing and more arrests could be made.

Check back to northscottpress.com for further updates and read the full story in the Dec. 21 edition of The NSP.