Woodstock Police K-9 finds Rockford man after Menards theft suspect flees

WOODSTOCK – The Woodstock Police Department's new K-9 helped find a felony retail theft suspect who fled from Menards this week and hid in the back of a van, according to a news release from Chief Robert Lowen.

Woodstock police responded to Menards, 2100 Lake Ave., about 3 p.m. Tuesday for a report of an man who was stealing two pneumatic nail guns, the release said. Police said the man had reportedly fled the area in a red SUV, which an officer stopped near the 1000 block of east Kimball Avenue.

The man, who police identified as Garry D. Bielefeldt, 30, of Rockford, got out of the passenger's side of the SUV and fled on foot, according to the release. Police said they detained the driver, identified as Gina N. Dawsey, 30, of Rockford.

Police set up a perimeter near Wanda Lane where Bielefeldt was last seen. They brought K-9 Officer Sharon Freund and her K-9 Blue, a German shepherd who started working last month, to search the area. The search led to a locked van parked in the lot at Jim Potts Motor Group, 1033 Wanda Lane.

Blue alerted on the doors of the van, police said. When officers opened the van, they found Bielefeldt hiding under a back seat, according to the release. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

After a police interview about Tuesday's theft, as well as another that happened at Menards Sept. 27, police charged Bielefeldt with two counts of retail theft over $500, Class 3 felonies; possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony; forgery, a Class 3 felony; and resisting a peace officer, a Class A misdemeanor.

Dawsey was charged with driving while license suspended, a Class A misdemeanor.

Both were taken to McHenry County Jail, where they remain in custody.

Bielefeldt's bond was set at $60,000. Dawsey's bond was set at $2,000. Both are due in court Friday.