Hunter
11/19/21
An Iowa City man accused of a string of crimes throughout the year was arrested on Thursday.
Police say the spree started in February. 37-year-old Mark Poggenpohl of Mosswood Lane reportedly entered the Ace Hardware building on Dodge Street through the roof during the overnight hours of the 22nd. He then reportedly used a pry-bar to gain entry into the office door, where he took six cashier trays containing $200 each. Video footage from the incident allegedly shows Poggenpohl entering the building with an Iowa Hawkeye backpack which was left behind. A COVID mask inside was sent to the State Crime Lab, and found a DNA match to Poggenpohl.
A second incident occurred on July 28th, when a Utah Avenue farm residence burglary was reported. Among the items stolen were a medium sized file cabinet safe, checkbook, cash, IDs and a Mastercard. Poggenpohl is seen the next day at the Riverside Dollar General just after 1:35pm spending $31.25 using the stolen card. Poggenpohl next reportedly went to the Kum & Go using the stolen card around 1:45 pm, purchasing gas and merchandise. Just after 6pm the same day, he allegedly went to Musician’s Pro Shop on South Gilbert Street and used the card to purchase over $860 in merchandise. Footage reportedly has Poggenpohl being part of the group that made the purchase, and he allegedly signed the invoice with his own name.
On the morning of August 5th, deputies observed Poggenpohl riding a Spyder Roadster on Observatory Road in Hills and attempted a stop using lights and siren, but he reportedly sped away and deputies lost sight of him. He was then spotted at Rupperkamps Road. Once again, lights and siren were deployed, but Poggenpohl continued to flee until crashing in a ditch and fleeing on foot.
Poggenpohl’s spree continued on August 22nd. He allegedly is seen on video footage that day around 2:35 pm on a 3 wheeled ATV driving on a Rohret Road property in Oxford , taking it into the cornfield. He is then seen emerging from the field about 15-20 minutes later without the vehicle, entering a utility building on the property without authorization. Footage then shows him leaving in the victim’s John Deere Gator UTV. The value of the vehicle and the materials inside was estimated at nearly $17,300.
The ATV he brought to the property was later identified as a vehicle that was taken from Tiffin between August 21st and the morning of August 22nd. It was valued at $400.
The last alleged crime occurred late on the 23rd of August. Poggenpohl reportedly entered two machine shops located on Lower West Branch Road in West Branch between 11:59 pm and 6 am the next morning. The victim said that both buildings were closed when he went to bed, but awoke to find his 2012 Ford F150 pickup stolen.
Later that morning, officers reportedly saw Poggenpohl in possession of the Ford, and he allegedly evaded deputies by driving through farm fields at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was recovered, but had body damage and electrical damage to the fuse box totaling about $8500 in repairs. He told officers who spoke with him that the truck was given to him by a different individual. Footprints at the scene were later matched with the shoes Poggenpohl was allegedly wearing when stopped.
Warrants had been issued throughout the year for his arrest, and he was taken to the Johnson County Jail Thursday afternoon. Poggenpohl faces a laundry list of charges; they include 1st degree theft, four counts of 3rd degree Burglary, 2nd degree Criminal Mischief, 3rd degree Criminal Mischief, 3rd Degree Theft, Driving While Barred, 4 counts of Unauthorized Use of a Credit Card, 4th degree Theft, 5th degree Theft, and Eluding. If convicted on all charges, Poggenpohl faces a prison term of over 50 years.