ST. GEORGE — Authorities have identified and formally charged a third suspect in the Nov. 22 burglary of the Cedar City C-A-L Ranch store, during which dozens of firearms were stolen.
Parker Darrell DeVoge, 20, who has not yet been apprehended as of Wednesday afternoon, was named in charging documents filed Tuesday in 5th District Court. He faces two counts of aggravated burglary, a first-degree felony; five counts of theft of a firearm, a second-degree felony; and one count of property damage between $1,500-$4,999, a third-degree felony.
The probable cause affidavit states that DeVoge is believed to have fled the area “after learning of the arrest of his accomplices.”
Cedar City Police Sgt. Justin Ludlow confirmed that DeVoge is still at large.
“He’s believed to be out of state,” Ludlow told Cedar City News.
As previously reported, the two other suspects in the case were both apprehended and booked into Iron County Jail last Friday. One of them, Darrell Glenn DeVoge, 48, is the father of Parker DeVoge. The other is Russell Gruber, 29. Each is also facing multiple felony charges, including aggravated burglary and several counts of firearm theft.
Both Gruber and Darrell DeVoge made their initial court appearances on Tuesday from jail via WebEx videoconferencing before 5th District Judge Matthew L. Bell. They each have roll call hearings scheduled for Friday, also via video conference.
The probable cause statements filed on Tuesday shed additional light on the C-A-L Ranch incident, including the detail that multiple burglars allegedly entered the store on two different occasions more than four hours apart on that same night.
According to the affidavit, three suspects first gained entry to the C-A-L Ranch store in Cedar City one minute before midnight on Nov. 21, at 11:59 p.m.
As shown in the store’s surveillance video footage, the three men are seen breaking a glass door into the back of the store near the firearms section.
“They enter the store and immediately go to where the guns are displayed,” the affidavit states. “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.”
According to the probable cause statement, the trio moved quickly and efficiently as they appeared to target specific firearms.
“In the space of just a few minutes, they were able to steal approximately 75 guns including rifles and pistols,” the statement says.
Then, at approximately 4:25 a.m. on Nov. 22, two of the men allegedly returned to the store and stole additional items, according to the affidavit.
“Two of the suspects returned and took additional guns, holsters, gun optics and ammunition,” the statement alleges, adding, “This time they appeared less rushed and took specific items. It appears the ammunition and holsters were specific to the guns they had taken.”
The probable cause statement also notes that authorities were later alerted to the possible identities of the suspects, thanks to an anonymous tip received on Dec. 14 by agents with ATF (U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).
The resultant investigation involved such methods as tracking the suspects via cell phone and GPS, visual surveillance and warranted searches at two separate residences within the Cedar City area.
Additionally, a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica registered to Gruber was determined to match the vehicle allegedly used by the burglars to get to and from the crime scene, in terms of both appearance and sound (Gruber’s car was known to make a distinctive whining noise, according to the affidavit).
Gruber, who has previously been convicted of felony burglary, has two pending theft cases in Iron County and had several active warrants out for his arrest, the affidavit states. Meanwhile, Darrell DeVoge reportedly has a prior felony conviction out of Nevada.
Anyone who has information regarding the whereabouts of Parker DeVoge is asked to call Cedar City Police Department at 435-586-2956.
Persons arrested or charged are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law or as otherwise decided by a trier-of-fact.
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