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Suspects wanted in connection with old hospital incident arrested

The two suspects wanted for being inside of the former downtown UnityPoint Hospital without authorization have been taken into custody after warrants were issued for their arrests last week.

According to court records, 33-year-old Manuel Patlan Corona of Marshalltown was arrested on Tuesday for trespassing at the property again as well as for the outstanding warrants for third degree burglary and second degree criminal mischief, both Class D felonies, and possession of burglar tools, an aggravated misdemeanor. He was also hit with an additional charge of possession of methamphetamine that was allegedly discovered under his shirt at the time of his arrest.

A criminal complaint alleges that Patlan Corona committed burglary on April 12 at approximately 6:30 p.m., the same time Marshalltown firefighters were called to rescue two individuals who were found unconscious inside of a “boiler-like container.”

“While inside the structure, the defendant cut lengths of copper pipe out of the inside of a large boiler. The copper was removed and was not located by officers. The defendant was located inside a metal boiler with saws and other tools to help facilitate the theft. The defendant was taken to the UnityPoint hospital for emergency medical treatment,” it reads.

He is currently being held on a bond totaling $7,780, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 1 at 9:30 a.m.

The other suspect, 53-year-old Lavonne Jefferson of Marshalltown, was charged with trespass second offense and has already pleaded guilty to the offense.

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