SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA – Two Northern Iowa men were arrested for arson charges after a Spirit Lek apartment was raided for drugs.
Back on May 10th, 2017, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Lake Park Police Department and the Spirit Lake Police Department execute search warrants at 108 E 1st Street Apartment #6 and 107 E 1st Street in Lake Park. Curtis Caskey, Patrick Wascher, and Chanelle Gembler were arrested that night for drug related charges.
Upon executing the search warrants, items were found in relation to some burglary and theft calls earlier in the year. Additional search warrants were issued for both residences for stolen property. Some of the items were linked to an arson that occurred on February 4th, 2017 at 1822 110th Street.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that Curtis Caskey and Lawrence Bartley were connected to the arson out at the rural county location.
Curtis Caskey was charged with:
Arson in the 2nd Degree – Class C Felony
Burglary in the 2nd Degree – Class C Felony
Possession of Burglar Tools – Aggravated Misdemeanor
Caskey is currently being held on a $47,000 bond.
Lawrence Bartley was charged with:
Arson in the 2nd Degree – Class C Felony
Burglary in the 2nd Degree – Class C Felony
Burglary in the 3rd Degree – Class D Felony
Possession of Burglar Tools – Aggravated Misdemeanor
Theft in the 2nd Degree – Class D Felony
Bartley is currently being held on a $20,000 bond.
Additional cases are still under investigation and more arrests are expected.
The DCSO was assisted by the Lake Park Police Department, Spirit Lake Police Department, Milford Police Department, Dickinson County Emergency Management, Dickinson County Dispatch, HEAT Team, Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (MN), and Iowa DPS – Division of State Fire Marshall’s Office.
