March 19, 2024

Former Forest City officer’s trial being moved

FOREST CITY — A judge has granted a request by a former Forest City police officer to move his trial out of Winnebago County.

Judge DeDra Schroeder ruled that Thaddeus Ellenbecker’s new trial will be held in Floyd County. The trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 21.

In May the Iowa Court of Appeals ordered a new trial for Ellenbecker because officers didn’t read Ellenbecker his Miranda rights.

Ellenbecker was convicted in 2012 of arson and burglary. He is accused of setting a fire that damaged the Forest City police station in October 2011. Authorities say he stole an assault rifle from a squad car in November 2010.

Ellenbecker was shot during a scuffle with a state agent investigating the crimes.