Lang
5/17/26
Two men have been arrested after a bicycle reported stolen from the University of Iowa Pentacrest was found at an Iowa City homeless encampment.
The Trek mountain bike with LED lighting on its handlebars was reported stolen from outside Shaeffer Hall just after 9:00 on the morning of May 9th. The bike was found that afternoon in the possession of 51-year-old Paul Opperman while he was at the homeless encampment off McCollister Boulevard. Opperman claimed he had purchased the bike from a “chubby” homeless man for $20. Opperman was arrested for outstanding warrants out of Linn County involving charges of Assault and Criminal Mischief. The bike was returned to its rightful owner.
The man who sold Opperman the bike was later identified as 39-year-old Steven Turner, who lists his address as Silver Springs Drive NE in Cedar Rapids. Security footage from outside Shaeffer Hall reportedly shows Opperman and Turner working in tandem to steal the bike. Opperman reportedly ditched his bike and rode off on Turner’s, while Turner rode off on the stolen Trek.
Turner is charged with 3rd Degree Theft, an Aggravated Misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of two years in jail.