BETTENDORF, Iowa – Two Davenport residents were arrested after allegedly stealing hundreds of dollars in merchandise from a Burlington store in Bettendorf on March 23.
According to police, Monica Sue Barten, 38, and Tony Martinez Jr., 39, entered the store around 6:25 p.m., loaded a shopping cart with $769.53 worth of items, and attempted to leave without paying. Barten reportedly passed the final point of sale and assisted Martinez in pushing the cart outside.
Authorities located the suspects shortly after at a gas station, where they were found with a pile of clothing and merchandise still bearing Burlington price tags. Upon searching an abandoned backpack inside their vehicle, officers discovered Barten’s wallet and ID, along with a plastic bag containing .31 grams of methamphetamine.
Due to Barten’s two prior drug convictions from 2022, her possession charge was upgraded to a felony. Martinez later admitted to stealing the merchandise during a post-Miranda interview.
Barten was booked into Scott County Jail on charges of felony third-offense drug possession and misdemeanor third-degree theft. She remains in custody on a $5,000 secured bond, with a preliminary hearing set for April 11.
Martinez, charged with misdemeanor third-degree theft, was released on his own recognizance and will also appear in court on April 11.