Hunter
02/18/22
A North Liberty man who was wanted after he failed to return from Hope House in August of 2020 has been arrested.
26-year-old Joel Meadows of Sugar Creek Lane was taken into custody Tuesday morning. When officers conducted a search of his person, an altered check was allegedly discovered. The check was written to Meadows for over $580. An investigation found that the owner of the check didn’t write the check and that it had been previously stolen from him.
Authorities secured a search warrant on the residence Meadows was staying. A Cannondale bicycle with a serial number matching one stolen out of Iowa City this past November was located. Near the bicycle, valued at around $250, a backpack was reportedly found to contain numerous debit cards and Iowa driver’s licences belonging to other individuals.
Another subject at the residence told police that Meadows recently brought the bicycle there.
A check of court records showed several previous theft convictions on Meadows’ history.
Meadows has been charged with Forgery, 3rd degree Theft and Voluntary Escape. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 8 years in prison.