Man Arrested on Burglary Warrants in Des Moines
Dewayne Rowley, 60, awaits extradition to Marshall County over a connected Marshalltown jewelry store burglary.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Property Crime
The Des Moines Police Department arrested Dewayne Rowley, 60, on outstanding warrants tied to burglary-related charges. He was taken to the Polk County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Marshall County.
Why it matters
The arrest connects a Des Moines suspect to a Marshalltown burglary that smashed display cases at Hellberg's Jewelers. It also shows how a related case has moved through the courts, with a co-defendant's plea and sentencing still pending.
Rowley faces first degree theft, third degree burglary, second degree criminal mischief, and possession of burglar's tools, and is held in Polk County pending extradition. Co-defendant Douglas Baker, 54, pleaded guilty to first degree theft, third degree burglary, and second degree criminal mischief on Oct. 19, with sentencing set for Dec. 7 at 10 a.m.
The players
Des Moines Police Department
The Des Moines Police Department is the municipal law enforcement agency that arrested Dewayne Rowley on outstanding warrants.
Marshalltown Police Department
The Marshalltown Police Department is the local law enforcement agency that responded to the April 4 burglary at Hellberg's Jewelers.
The details
Two men arrived in a white pickup truck with Kansas plates and broke into Hellberg's Jewelers just after 4 a.m. on April 4, smashing several display cases and the west entrance window. They gathered the stolen items in bags and left before Marshalltown Police Department officers arrived. Baker turned himself in to authorities on May 3, and Rowley was later arrested by Des Moines Police on outstanding warrants.
Timeline
April 4, 2026: Early morning burglary at Hellberg's Jewelers in Marshalltown.
May 3, 2026: Douglas Baker turned himself in to authorities.
June 25, 2026: Alleged burglary of a Des Moines residence linked to Rowley.
Oct. 19, 2026: Douglas Baker pleaded guilty to multiple charges.
Nov. 3, 2026: Dewayne Rowley arrested by Des Moines Police.
Legal Context
The charges against Rowley and Baker fall under Iowa's first degree theft and third degree burglary statutes, the same categories used to prosecute organized property crimes across the state. Their cases illustrate how multi-county burglaries are handled through extradition and co-defendant plea agreements.
Business owners in Marshalltown and Des Moines may want to review display-case and window security, since the April burglary involved smashed cases and an entrance window. Residents should watch for updates on extradition and sentencing that could affect local court schedules.
The takeaway
Retailers that hold high-value merchandise can reduce risk by reviewing entrance and display-case security, especially for early-morning hours when burglaries like this one occurred.
What happens next
Douglas Baker's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 7 at 10 a.m., and Dewayne Rowley is awaiting extradition to Marshall County.
Further reading
For more on related cases, see Property Crime coverage in Des Moines.
