Red Oak, Iowa, KMAland.com
Red Oak Police say 38-year-old Aaron Theodore Johnson was arrested Monday for electronic and/or mechanical eavesdropping, a serious misdemeanor, and felon in possession of a firearm, a class D felony. Johnson is charged in connection with an investigation that began at around 11:10 Monday morning, when police received a complaint from 29-year-old Jessica Hale of Red Oak regarding a recording device found in her residence in the 400 block of North 7th Street.
Upon further investigation, authorities later found a second device in the residence’s bedroom. The victim told police that the only person granted access to her residence was a pest control technician. Later in the day, a search warrant was obtained for Johnson’s residence in the 2700 block of State Highway 48–which is also the location of RMPKA Pest Control Services.
Officers with Red Oak Police and deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrants. Red Oak Police Chief Drue Powers tells KMA News several items similar to those found in the Hale residence were seized, as well as numerous computers, hard drives and other electronic devices. Powers says an investigation determined Johnson had been previously convicted of a felony, and was in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Powers says it’s unknown how Johnson was able to sneak the recording devices into the victim’s house. The chief says the recording devices and other items seized have been to the State Crime Lab in Ankeny for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation’s examination.
Johnson is being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 cash bond, awaiting an appearance before the county magistrate.