MONTEVIDEO -- A fugitive from justice charged in a Montevideo home burglary is being investigated as a possible suspect in burglaries that occurred throughout the area in homes where people were sleeping.
A warrant for the arrest of Jordan Lee Downwind, 19, of Montevideo, was issued Oct. 13 in District Court in Montevideo. A reward is being offered for information leading the apprehension of Downwind.
A 17-year-old male is also being held in the Prairie Lakes Detention Center in connection with the case. The juvenile was in possession of checks that Downwind had allegedly stolen. He allegedly told police that Downwind had told him that Downwind was responsible for home burglaries in Montevideo, Maynard and Clara City.
Felony charges for first-degree burglary - dwelling occupied and receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana were filed in District Court against Downwind after Montevideo police executed a search warrant at his residence in that community on Oct. 13. At his residence, court records show that police seized two laptop computers and a wallet-sized photograph of the victims linking him to the July 28 burglary of a Montevideo home. They also seized a bag of marijuana, four wallets, and a mini-screwdriver set with drill bits.
The burglary victims told police they woke up on July 28 to discover two laptop computers, a wallet with $700 cash and an $800 Bose radio/CD player had been taken from their home. The male victim reported that he had left his wallet in a pocket of his shorts.
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Montevideo Police Chief Adam Christopher said that Downwind is being investigated for possible involvement in other home burglaries in Montevideo and Clara City. Willmar Police Chief David Wyffels also confirmed that he is being investigated as a suspect in similar burglaries in the Willmar area.
Court records show that upward of 19 different home burglaries and break-ins to parked vehicles occurred during nighttime hours during a period running from July 28 to Oct. 12 in Montevideo. Most were located within a few blocks of Downwind's residence.
Along with cash, wallets and purses, a wide collection of small electronics such as digital cameras, iPods and other digital music players were taken. Also stolen were jewelry, prescription bottles, a video camera, Columbia jacket and a pair of prescription sunglasses. Other items taken include a crowbar and ice pick.
In one instance, a walker that had been stolen from a home was discovered outside the residence.
The 17-year-old male was arrested Oct. 12 as part of a joint operation by Granite Falls and Montevideo police involving a burglary of a business place in Granite Falls. A police officer found five checks made by apartment tenants to a management company in the 17-year-old's wallet. He allegedly told police that Downwind had stolen the checks from a drop box at a Montevideo apartment building and asked him to hold them until he could cash them.
Court records show that Downwind had earlier brought in a collection of small bills to a Montevideo bank to exchange for $50 bills.
The records also show that on the night of the Sept. 24 burglaries in Clara City, a vehicle matching the color and description of the vehicle Downwind was known to drive had been seen driving in the city around 4 a.m. Clara City police responded to reports of 11 burglaries.
On Sept. 27 in Montevideo, Downwind had been a passenger in a vehicle pulled over by Montevideo police on suspicion of drunken driving. Officers found a wig and sunglasses, ice pick and hammer in the vehicle.
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Downwind has a prior criminal background, including convictions for separate cases of third- and first-degree burglaries. The first degree conviction was for burglary in possession of a dangerous weapon.
Montevideo police are offering a reward for information that aids in the investigation and apprehension of the suspect.
Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog earlier announced a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspects in the Kandiyohi, Lake Lillian and Pennock burglaries.
