Man arrested after multiple vehicle burglaries in Swan Valley
Published at | Updated at
SWAN VALLEY — A 38-year-old Bonneville County man was arrested after allegedly being involved with multiple vehicle burglaries in the Swan Valley area along Snake River boat ramps over the past several weeks.
According to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, most of the vehicles that were burglarized belonged to people fishing in the area. Credit cards and money were reported stolen.
Through the investigation, deputies identified several transactions had been made using the stolen credit cards in the Swan Valley area.
On Thursday, deputies were alerted to the use of one stolen credit card at the Swan Valley General Store, where they located Justin William Hurzeler’s vehicle with a toddler and multiple stolen items from the burglaries inside.
Deputies detained him inside the store where he had tried to use one of the stolen credit cards.
According to a news release, “Hurzeler admitted to being involved in several vehicle burglaries and deputies have connected him as a suspect in more than 10 different burglaries and fraudulent use of a financial transaction card.”
Deputies searched his car and found more than 2 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. They also found a campsite used by Hurzeler and found more stolen property there.
Hurzeler was arrested and taken to the Bonneville County Jail.
He has been charged with five felonies, including burglary, possession of stolen property, fraudulent use of a financial transaction device and possession of methamphetamine. He was also charged with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
A spokesman with the sheriff’s office told EastIdahoNews.com that the toddler is safe.
According to the sheriff’s office, the case is still under investigation, and more charges relating to other vehicle burglary incidents are pending.
Hurzeler had his initial court appearance on Friday and is expected to be back in court for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m.