Roop arrested in connection to Jan. theft of Wild Rose ATM

By Brandon Hurley
Managing Editor
News@beeherald.com

@BrandonJHurley

A fourth and final suspect in the theft of an ATM from Wild Rose Casino in January has been apprehended following a months long search.

Jacob Roop, 26, of Marshalltown, was charged and transported to the Greene County jail for first degree theft, second degree theft and second degree criminal mischief on Thursday, Oct. 6
Roop was arrested in Marshall County last month for possession of methamphetamines, which led to the discovery of his outstanding warrants.

The Marshalltown native was one of three initial co-conspirators on Jan. 28 who stole an ATM from the Wild Rose Casino lobby. The twosome of Richard Harris and Jorge Palacios entered the casino around 5:45 a.m. and proceeded to load the ATM onto a hand cart, lifting it into a white, 2002 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck. The vehicle, which was also stolen out of Boone County, contained a suspect later identified as Roop.  Harris was pinpointed by law enforcement thanks to surveillance video from his appearance at the casino a day prior on Jan. 27 when he sought restitution for winning a jackpot. He not only provided identification to Wild Rose staff, but Harris was seen wearing the same clothing he wore during the theft – a black shirt with a white long sleeve shirt underneath. Harris was seen on video shaking the ATM on Jan. 27.

The getaway Chevy truck, which featured stolen plates out of Dallas County, was abandoned in the 1800 block of Redwood Avenue after the truck had run out of gas. Roop, officers later learned, was sent to find gas on foot.

ROOP IS MISSING SUSPECT

Initially, law enforcement struggled to confirm Roop’s identity, even assisting him by the roadside the day of the ATM theft. Roop was found walking along Redwood Avenue, on his way to get fuel for what was likely the getaway truck. By that point, the ATM theft had yet to be reported to law enforcement, though the sheriff’s office did receive a report of an inoperable truck on Redwood Avenue.
Greene County sheriff Jack Williams was en route to the scene when he spotted Roop, unaware he was the unknown ATM suspect. Williams said Roop was found roughly a mile from where the stolen truck was abandoned in the 1800 block of Redwood Avenue. Williams proceeded to give Roop a ride to Sparky’s for fuel, leaving him without apprehension.

Officers eventually discovered Roop was indeed a passenger in the getaway car, which led to his charges. The problem was, according to court records and recent arrest documents, Roop listed himself as “homeless” in Marshall County, leaving officers with few resources to track him down. He’s not a native, nor a resident of Greene County. Court documents suggest he’s a life-long resident of Marshall County.
“Then it was just putting things together after we found out about the theft several hours later,” Williams said. “We located him was that Marshal County had arrested him on their charges.”
Marshalltown police officers pursued Roop on Sept. 21 for meth possession, where he was also arrested for eluding at 11:29 p.m.

ANOTHER SUSPECT JOINS

Steven Curvin joined Harris and Palacios the day after the ATM theft, who were seen driving near the area of Redwood Avenue on Jan. 29 in a maroon, 1990 GMC truck complete, with a car dolly trailer. A law enforcement officer later performed a traffic stop on the vehicle on Highway 169 a shade south of Ogden.
After a brief search of the vehicle and its passengers, Harris was found with $1,700 on his person in his front left pocket while Jorge Palacios was found with $11,600 in his coat sleeves and pockets, court documents show. Curvin was also present with the duo, and told officers of the stolen ATM at his home in Story City.

Curvin was interviewed at the seen on Jan. 29 and later led officers to his home in Story City. He provided physical proof of the Wild Rose Casino ATM in his possession at a shop adjacent to his home as well as an ATM that was believed to be taken from the Cerro Gordo County fairgrounds near Mason City area, also allegedly stolen by Harris and Palacios.
Curvin was charged with first degree theft out of Story County. His trial has yet to reach a completion. A motion for continuance was requested on June 24.
Harris took the Wild Rose ATM to Curvin’s home in January, hoping to have him break in. The Wild Rose ATM was “destroyed” thanks to the use of a grinder and pry bars, court documents say. The ATM was holding $14,204 of cash.

ROOP’S HISTORY IN THIEVERY

Roop has been in trouble with the law several times before, consisting of a handful of thefts. A 10-year prison sentence was suspended despite being found guilty of conspiracy to commit a forcible felony and violation of probation after pointing a gun at a resident and attempting to rob the person in November of 2016. The victim did not cooperate with Roop’s demands, so he shoved the victim to the ground and put the gun to their head. He stole a purse and fled in a vehicle.

Roop was also found guilty of carrying a weapon – a knife over five inches – after officers discovered a seven inch blade concealed under his jacket in 2016. He was ordered to serve 59 hours of community service and to pay a $315 fine. Additionally, Roop was found guilty of accessory after the fact for a pair of thefts at JC Penny’s and Yonkers in Marshalltown, also in 2016. Roop was also the getaway driver. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $65.
One count of possession of meth and a single count of operating under the influence were dismissed from an incident in 2017.

Most recently, Roop was charged with violating his probation on Jan. 26 for several different instances, including failing to report his working conditions in Iowa and Kansas, while he also failed to attend training for substance abuse and cognitive behavior. He also tested positive for alcohol in October of last year.

HARRIS SENTENCED BY COURTS

Harris eventually pled guilty to first degree theft while his original charges of second degree theft and second degree criminal mischief were dismissed. He was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison and to pay a fine of $1,370 on Monday, June 20. Harris was also ordered to pay Wild Rose Casino $13,400.
Harris’ sentencing was likely aided by his previous criminal convictions. He has also been found guilty of operating while intoxicated three separate times, driving while under suspension, boating while under the influence three separate times and possession of marijuana. Harris was also found guilty of meth possession in a correctional facility in Bremer County in 2019.

PALACIOS VIOLATES PROBATION

A bench warrant was issued for Harris’ accomplice, Jorge Palacios in June, court documents say.
Palacios was originally charged and arrested for first and second degree theft, second degree criminal mischief and violation of probation. The charges for second degree theft and second degree criminal mischief were dismissed in May.

Palacios pled guilty to first degree theft on March 11.
He was ordered to serve a sentence not to exceed 10 years on May 9, though the entire sentence was suspended and Palacios was placed on probation for a “period of two to five years.” He was ordered to pay Wild Rose Casino $11,600 and was fined $1,370.

Palacios didn’t take long to stir up trouble, missing several of his probation meetings since the sentencing.
A bench warrant for Palacios was issued on June 19 following a request to revoke his probation, believing there is probable cause he has violated the terms of his probation. Bond has been set at $20,000, cash only.
Palacios did not show up for his most recent probation meeting on June 14. Court documents say the probation officer did not know where Palacios is. He had missed his three previously scheduled meetings after stating he “forgot” about a meeting on May 23, then he said he couldn’t get a ride for the June 6 meeting date. Palacios was supposed to meet with a probation officer in Marshalltown, but never showed.
Palacios had previously been convicted for possession of methamphetamine in 2019 in Santa Barbara, California and was sentenced to five years of probation. A line in the original probation settlement read Palacios could not reside outside of the county or the state of California without the permission of his parole officer.

Palacios was also charged with a felony in 2005 in California and was sentenced to 120 days in jail, which was reduced to 46 days. Palacios attempted to transfer his probation to Marshalltown, but was denied because he failed to meet with his current probation officer. Court documents show Palacios’ whereabouts are “currently unknown.”