Lang
2/19/23
Iowa City Police have arrested a second suspect in an Iowa City appliance store burglary case.
55-year-old Gregory Meierotto, a local transient, was booked into the Johnson County Jail just before 5pm Friday. Iowa City Police say Meierotto and another local transient, 59-year-old Scott Ayers, entered the property of Slager Appliance on Highway 1 West just before 2:30am on August 27th of last year by climbing over or under a fence. The two allegedly entered four different Slager trucks and stole equipment. The incident was caught on surveillance video, which police say also shows the vehicle the two used to flee the scene. The estimated value of the stolen items is $3,750.
Meierotto was pulled over by police three days after the burglary. He was allegedly wearing the same clothing as in the security video. A search of the truck turned up some of the stolen merchandise.
Police say a subsequent search of Meierotto and Ayers’ former residence on Taylor Drive turned up more items stolen from Slager. Ayers allegedly admitted he and Meierotto committed the burglary.
Meierotto and Ayers are each charged with 2nd Degree Theft and four counts of 3rd Degree Burglary of a Motor Vehicle. If convicted on all charges, each man faces a maximum of 13 years in prison.