Shoplifters flee Indianhead, take refuge in lake, finally captured

MASON CITY – Two people grabbed some goods at Kohl’s today in Mason City and then fled, later dipping in a nearby body of water as police scoured the area.

According to police, Thursday at about 12:32 PM, Mason City police officers responded to Kohl’s Department store at 556 Indianhead Drive for a report of two shoplifters that had fled the store in a car with merchandise.

A police officer spotted the suspect vehicle in the 700 block of South Eisenhower Avenue and attempted to pull the Vehicle over. The suspect vehicle refused to pull over and the officer pursued the suspects until both occupants bailed out of the car and then fled on foot in the 800 block of Briarstone Drive.

A bystander told NIT this evening that at “around 1:00 PM today I was walking out of Pizza Hut and about 6 police cars went speeding by.”

Police were searching for the suspects, and discovered that a male suspect, Joseph Michael Evenson, age 24, of Mason City, entered a residence in the 700 block of Briarstone Drive in an attempt to hide. He then exited the house when officers approached and then he jumped into Briarstone Lake.

The bystander also said that police “were parked (spread out) around the Southeast corner of the lake. They appeared to be searching for someone as officers were seen in between houses, walking around the neighborhood.”

After several minutes, Evenson was arrested by officers and transported to the county jail. Officers continued to search for the female, PeggioJo Lynn Stinnett, age 27, of Mason City. She was later located hiding in some bushes along the lake.

Evenson was charged with Theft 3rd (enhanced) and interference with official acts for the
shoplifting incident today. He also had arrest Warrants for previous offenses:

l) Parole violation reference Forgery
2) Theft 3rd (enhanced)
3) Child Endangerment
4) Eluding
5) Driving under suspension
6) 2 counts of drug paraphernalia
7) Possession of a controlled Substance
8) Multiple driving offenses

Ms. Stinnett was charged with theft in the 3rd degree (enhanced), interference with official acts, driving under suspension, and failure to obey a stop sign for the incident today. She also had arrest warrants for her for the following:

l) Violation of pre-trial release reference theft (enhanced)
2) Theft in the 3rd degree (enhanced)

Both subjects were transported to the county jail to be held for bond and the stolen property was recovered and released back to the store. The police department was also assisted by deputies from
the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department.