Two Ironton men appeared in Ironton Municipal Court on Tuesday, accused of break-ins at five businesses the day after Christmas.

Saturday, January 06, 2001

Two Ironton men appeared in Ironton Municipal Court on Tuesday, accused of break-ins at five businesses the day after Christmas.

Samuel T. Riedel, 22, and Joseph M. Stoneroad, 22, of 401 Center St., Apt. 3, Ironton, were taken into custody Dec. 26, charged with the breaking and entering of five businesses in the former Goldcamps building on the corner of Fourth and Center streets, according to Ironton Police Department reports.

"We received a call, at 7:30 p.m., of a possible breaking and entering at the State of Ohio Drivers Examination station," detective Capt. Chris Bowman said.

"Subsequent investigations revealed five different businesses had been entered in the same building," Bowman said. "We determined that the suspects had entered each place by removing the doors to the businesses."

The other businesses allegedly broken into included the State of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles Deputy Registrar’s office, Payday Express, Dr. James Schweickart’s dentistry office and Dr. Lauren Schweickart’s podiatry office, he said.

Property taken from each of the five businesses ranged from pop to ink pens to medication from the doctors’ offices, Bowman said.

"We were able to recover all of the items stolen from the businesses," he said. "All of the property was found at their residence. We arrested them that same evening."

Riedel and Stoneroad are being charged with five counts of breaking and entering, fifth-degree felonies, Bowman said.

They face a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail and can be fined up to $2,500, he said.

Just two days later, investigators were called to an aggravated burglary at 2529 S. 13th St., Bowman said.

Two male juveniles from Ironton were arrested in connection with the incident.

"We received the call at 7:27 a.m. on Dec. 28," he said. "Two subjects entered through a window of the residence and were interrupted by a person at the residence. They fled the scene on foot."

Investigators found that two 16 year olds had entered the home and attempted to steal a Nintendo 64.

"The subjects were apprehended later the same day," Bowman said. "The evidence was recovered at the scene. They both are being charged with aggravated burglary."