Gasconade County Sheriff Randy Esphorst said a Gasconade, Mo., teen with an alleged serious heroin problem has been arrested and charged with a string of burglaries reported over the past month in the northern and western portion of the county.

“It worked out well,” said Esphorst of the joint investigation which began early last week between his deputies and Hermann police. “We had an idea who he was but having an idea and having proof are two different things.”

That proof came early Thursday morning when Hermann patrol officer Brian McGowan was responding to an alarm at Hermann Pharmacy at the Village Lane development on Highway 100 West. Hermann Chief Frank Tennant reported the McGowan passed a pickup truck leaving the area and noted its license plate number. He found someone had attempted to gain access to the pharmacy and later determined Joel Allen Wood, 19, had been driving the truck which belonged to his grandfather. Esphorst said the grandfather was unaware his truck was missing until notifed by lawmen.

McGowan’s information was shared with Deputy Det. Matt Lindemeyer and their investigation led them to Wood who was interviewed at length on the night of June 25. He was arrested that night and taken to the Montgomery County Jail. Formal charges were filed Friday by the Gasconade County Prosecutor’s Office.

Wood was charged with attempted burglary (second degree) and six counts of burglary, second degree. Wood is accused of attempting to burglarize Hermann Pharmacy and with burglaries at Hop’s Hide-a-way in Pershing, Morrison MFA, Morrison Bar & Grill, and Bockting Equipment, Inc., all in Morrison, L&S Equipment outside Hermann, and a private residence located on Ash Street in Gasconade.

“This is a perfect example of the necessary team work and cooperation between our local law enforcement agencies as we work to keep our city and county safe,” said Tennant in a press release announcing Wood’s arrest. “Officer Brian McGowan of Hermann Police Department and Detective Matt Lindemeyer of Gasconade County Sheriff’s Department both are a credit to our communities. They both exhibited excellent skills and professionalism in their handling of these matters that allowed us to quickly resolve these incidents which can only provide for a much safer community. It is amazing what we can accomplish as law enforcement agencies when we cooperate to the benefit of our respective jurisdictions and the citizens we serve.”