Police say Cedar Rapids man stole TV from nursing home

Police arrested a man early Monday morning after they said he broke into a Cedar Rapids nursing home and stole a TV.

Officers were dispatched around 1:25 a.m. Monday to Living Center East, 1220 Fifth Ave. SE, for a burglary in progress. They were told a man crawled through the window of a resident's room, grabbed a 32-inch flat screen TV off a cabinet in the room and left through the same window.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said the man slid a window open to gain entry. She said a 63-year-old female resident was in the room, but was not harmed.

"She pushed her panic button on her bed, and also had her phone nearby," Hamblin said. "She called the nurse's station as soon as he left the room. He was in and out in about a minute or so."

About 30 minutes later, K-9 officers were searching the area when they noticed a car carrying three people that had driven by "several" times, according to the police report. The car had expired license plates, so police initiated a traffic stop.

Police said the TV that had just been stolen from the nursing home was sitting in the back seat of the car.

Passenger Corey B. McClendon, 38, of 4027 22nd St. SW, Apt. 7, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia. The driver of the car, Richard D. Nemec, 69, of 140 Bowling St. SW, also was arrested, on suspicion of operating while intoxicated. Both men were taken to the Linn County Jail.

The TV, valued at $200, will be returned to the nursing home after investigators finish looking for fingerprints, police said. An investigation was continuing.

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