The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office has identified two suspects connected to the August 8, 2024, break-in and burglary at the Lumberyard Bar and Grill in Cowden.
Authorities say Brandon DeClerck, 49, of Taylorville, and Mitchell Chapman, 39, of Decatur, were involved in similar crimes across Central Illinois. The investigation was a multi-agency effort, with the Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office providing technical assistance.
DeClerck was arrested on March 11, 2025, on a Shelby County warrant. He has since been released on pre-trial supervision and is being monitored with a GPS ankle device. Meanwhile, Chapman is currently in custody at the Christian County Jail on unrelated charges and is being held on an arrest warrant for Shelby County.
Sheriff Brian McReynolds emphasized the collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies in identifying and apprehending the suspects.
