A Guthrie Center teen is being held in the Guthrie County Jail on charges of 3rd-Degree Burglary and 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief after allegedly breaking into the local Hometown Foods grocery store early this morning.

According to Officer Rod Pavelka, the Guthrie Center Police Department received a report just after 4am that the front window at Hometown Foods had been shattered.  After a brief investigation, it was determined that a subject had broken into the store through the window and stole an undetermined amount of cigarettes and liquor.

With the help of store owner Don Reinhard and employee Eric Grove, GCPD was able to identify a suspect, 18 year-old David Paul Dawson, through video of the store’s surveillance system.  Dawson was then arrested shortly after 5am at the Guthrie County Hospital, where he was being treated for a laceration to his wrist.

Dawson is being held on $5,000 bond in the Guthrie County Jail, pending his appearance in front of the county magistrate.

Both the burglary and criminal mischief charges that Dawson faces are “Class D” felonies.  He has also been charged with one count of Trespassing, a simple misdemeanor.  All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The Guthrie Center Police Department was assisted by the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office and the Panora Police Department in its investigation.

Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.