These six words may be the difference between jail time and freedom: A casino parking lot has cameras.
That also applies to the Isle of Capri Waterloo parking lot where casino employees noticed suspicious behavior on Saturday, June 26. Their phone call led to:
- Meth and a glass pipe for meth use
- $62,900 stolen from a briefcase
- The arrest of a 25-year-old Anamosa man
A PlayIA review of court records offers a glimpse into what may have gone down.
Waterloo police officer Christopher Kubli filed incident details at the Black Hawk County Clerk of Courts Office.
Who was the alleged prowler in the casino parking lot?
Casino security told Waterloo Police that they saw someone suspicious in the Isle Capri parking lot at 9:19 a.m. June 26. When officers arrived, they found 25-year-old Matthew Peterson of Anamosa.
He matched the description provided by Isle Waterloo security. Peterson was walking away from the casino when he was stopped by police.
“The defendant made admissions to having methamphetamine in a cigarette box in his front left pocket,” Kubli’s criminal complaint said. The complaint charges Peterson with possession of a controlled substance — third or subsequent offense. That’s a Class D felony in Iowa.
Police filed a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia charge after they found a glass pipe in the cigarette box as well.
Casino cash but not from a big win
However, Peterson faces his most serious charge due to parking lot surveillance footage at the casino. It shows someone rummaging through a blue 2007 Toyota Tacoma.
The truck owner said he had a briefcase in the pickup bed, which contained $62,900.
“Now the briefcase was open and the cash was missing,” Kubli’s affidavit said. The officer’s statement suggests he found the cash in Peterson’s possession. Officers then took Peterson to the Black Hawk County Jail.
Peterson made an initial appearance. The court set a July 7 preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists for the case to move forward. Often, the county attorney’s office can file trial information. That would cancel the need for a hearing.
Peterson remains in jail on a $15,300 bond.
