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CEDAR CITY — Two men were charged Tuesday with stealing numerous guns from the C-A-L Ranch Store in Cedar City. Police say one of the men has also been connected to other recent burglaries.
Russell Wesley Gruber, 29, of Cedar City, is charged in three cases in 5th District Court with a total of three counts of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; burglary and 10 counts of theft of a firearm, second-degree felonies; three counts of possession of a weapon by restricted person, two counts of property damage and theft, third-degree felonies; drug possession and reckless endangerment, class A misdemeanors; and illegal discharge of a firearm, a class B misdemeanor.
Darrell Glenn Devoge, 48, is charged with aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; five counts of theft of a firearm, a second-degree felony; property damage and possession of a weapon by restricted person, third-degree felonies; and having burglary tools, a class B misdemeanor.
Just before midnight on Nov. 21, three people wearing black masks and sweatshirts crawled into the C-A-L Ranch Store in Cedar City, 750 S. Main, after breaking the lower part of a glass door, and then took "a large amount of firearms from display cases and gun racks," according to a statement released by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Police say about 75 firearms were stolen.
"They cut locks on guns and broke several display cases. It was obvious this was a planned act, and that the individuals were familiar with the layout of the store and the gun displays. They targeted specific guns and moved quickly and efficiently. In the space of just a few minutes they were able to steal approximately 75 guns, including rifles and pistols," according to a police booking affidavit.
The Cedar City Police Department with assistance from the ATF investigated the case, and on Friday announced the arrests of Gruber and Devoge.
Using surveillance cameras in the area, investigators say after the men left the C-A-L Ranch Store, they were able to track their route "for a significant amount of time and distance," the affidavit states.
About 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 22, police say two of the men returned to the store "and took additional guns, holsters, gun optics and ammunition. This time they appeared less rushed and took specific items."
On Dec. 14, an ATF agent received an anonymous tip that Gruber may be involved. Investigators said they learned he also owned a vehicle that matched the description of the one they were looking for.
The agent monitored Gruber as he drove away from his residence on Dec. 20.
"The route out of his neighborhood was the same route the suspect vehicle took into the neighborhood. This is noteworthy because it is not a direct route out of the neighborhood, and likely one not normally taken by someone trying to leave the neighborhood. While following him I noticed he was driving in a way consistent with someone who was concerned about being followed. He often took out-of-the-way routes, or turned on to sides streets, to get where he was going," the agent wrote in the affidavit.
On Friday, police served a search warrant at Gruber's home.
"Approximately 30 firearms were found in the home, a good portion of which were firearms that were stolen from C-A-L Ranch. There was also clothing and shoes found in the residence consistent with what worn by the suspects in the surveillance footage. Additional items that were stolen from C-A-L Ranch were also found in the residence," the affidavit alleges.
A second search warrant was served at a trailer where Devoge lives.
"While serving the warrant, officers located a large amount of guns in a trailer on the property. Several of these guns were confirmed to have been from the C-A-L Ranch. Also in the trailer was burglary tools seen being used in the video footage from C-A-L Ranch. Also in the trailer was clothing that matched the clothing worn by the suspects in the video from C-A-L Ranch," the affidavit states.
As police were investigating the store burglary, they learned that approximately 20 guns had been stolen from a Cedar City home about a month earlier. After he was arrested, Gruber admitted to that burglary, a second police booking affidavit says.
Investigators also linked Gruber to a laundromat burglary on Dec. 12. In that case, Gruber used a shotgun that he had stolen from C-A-L Ranch to shoot the lock off a change machine and take money from it, according to a third arrest report.
