Second home invasion suspect arrested

The second of three suspects sought in connection with a home invasion in Maryville on Sept. 29 is in custody after being arrested Tuesday afternoon in Glenwood, Iowa.

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White said Wednesday that Benjamin Lloyd Ensley, 21, Glenwood, was to be extradited back to Missouri where charges are pending with regard to a break-in and assault in the 200 block of West Cooper.

Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen said Ensley was arrested during a traffic stop and taken to the Mills County, Iowa, jail.

Ensley’s arrest means that only one of three suspects sought in the break-in remained at large as of Wednesday.

Also in custody is Jacob Thorne, 20, who was being held in the Fremont County jail in lieu of $50,000 bond following his arrest Sunday night in a house just outside Sidney, Iowa.

Fremont County Deputy Sheriff Andrew Wake said deputies approached the home and smelled burning marijuana. Upon entering, they reportedly discovered Thorne, two other adults, and a juvenile sitting at a kitchen table allegedly smoking the drug.

Deputies arrested the occupants and conducted a warranted search of the house, where Wake said they seized three firearms, a pistol that was laying on the kitchen table, a rifle, and a shotgun.

In addition to pending Missouri charges related to the Maryville break-in, Thorne now faces multiple charges in Iowa, including misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, misdemeanor gathering where marijuana is used, and a felony count of distributing drugs to someone under the age of 18.

His extradition status remained undetermined.

Ensley faces no Iowa charges but has been charged in Nodaway County with first-degree burglary, armed criminal action, and second-degree assault. All three counts are felonies. He also faces misdemeanor charges of stealing property or services valued at less than $500 and property damage.

The alleged home invasion occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Maryville Public Safety Director Keith Wood said the suspects forcibly entered the dwelling and confronted its two male occupants, one of whom was reportedly beaten with a baseball bat. The other victim was able to flee the home, escaping injury.

Wood said it is possible the assailants were in possession of a handgun at the time of the incident, but that has not been confirmed.

Authorities believe that a personal dispute, possibly over money, was the cause of the robbery and attack.