Two males have been arrested by the Muscatine Police Department in connection with a string of car burglaries that also involved the attempted theft of the vehicles.
Zachary Eli Early (01/19/2006) and Justin Cortez Bass (10/26/2006) were arrested by patrol officers on Tuesday (Nov. 19, 2024) after it was reported that they were observed breaking into a vehicle along the 200 block of West 7th Street. Early and Bass were stopped by officers at approximately 9:35 p.m. as they were trying to flee the area on foot.
Further investigation revealed that Early and Bass were responsible for two other vehicle burglaries as well as the attempted burglary of a fourth vehicle, all in the same area. Both individuals have been charged with three counts of Burglary 3rd degree, three counts of Criminal Mischief in the 3rd degree, one count of Criminal Mischief in the 4th degree, and one count of Attempted Burglary 3rd degree. Justin Bass received an additional charge of Possession of Burglar Tools.
Zachary Early gave an address of 11 Buffalo Court in LeClair, Iowa, while Justin Bass gave an address of 3910 W Rusholme St. in Davenport, Iowa, however both are known to have ties to a local Sycamore Street address in Muscatine.
Bass and Early are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.