On May 20, an arrest warrant was issued for Colby Lee Cowan of St. Joe on charges of commercial burglary, Class D felony, and breaking or entering, a Class D felony. Searcy County Sheriff Kenny Cassell said Cowan was wanted in connection with the burglary of Roten’s Furniture in Marshall and the burglaries of church buildings in Big Flat, Harriet and Marshall in Searcy County.

In an affidavit filed with the court on May 21, Cassell said that Dylan Wilson, who is a suspect in several area commercial burglaries, gave details of burglaries that occurred between October and November of last year and stated that Cowan assisted him with the break-in of Roten’s Furniture on one occasion. He also stated that he and Cowan took money and other items during the burglary of Roten’s.

Cassell stated that in an affidavit filed with the court on May 20, during an interview with Jerad Ramsey who admitted involvement in several area church burglaries, Ramsey stated that Cowan was present during the burglary of the Big Flat Assembly of God Church where they took money and a vacuum cleaner. Following that break-in, Ramsey said he and Cowan went to Harriet and entered a home and church and took cash from the church building.

Ramsey said that he and Cowan then went to Marshall where they broke into the North View Church, but left when they heard voices upstairs. They left Marshall and drove to the Round Mountain area in Stone County where they entered the Round Mountain Church and took food and sodas.

Cowan is currently being held in the Searcy County Detention Center pending charges on crimes committed outside the jurisdiction of Marshall.