A 45-year-old LeClaire man was in custody Saturday after he was arrested on a warrant in connection with a fire in a portable toilet and a business defaced by graffiti in 2020.

Randy Schneck faces a felony charge of possession of an incendiary or explosive device with intent, aggravated misdemeanor charges of third-degree arson and third-degree criminal mischief, and a serious misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance, court records show.

A fire in a portable toilet, graffiti on a business

At 1:10 a.m. April 30, Schneck and another person had been drinking and decided to go out and cause criminal damage to others’ property via graffiti, police allege in arrest affidavits. Schneck had in his possession a Molotov Cocktail-type incendiary device that he made at his LeClaire residence prior to leaving, police allege in affidavits.

“As they were driving they passed a porta-potty located at the new construction site of Twin Span Brewing (6776 Championship Drive) in Bettendorf,” police allege in affidavits. Schneck told the other person he would like to use the incendiary device on it.

The other person, who was driving them in a car with the right headlight out, turned around and drove them back to the area of the portable toilet. Both walked to the structure. The other person “actually used the porta-potty prior to (Schneck) using the Molotov Cocktail to set the structure on fire,” police allege in affidavits.

They then walked back to the car and headed west toward Davenport, police allege. The portable toilet (valued at $600) was destroyed by the intentionally set fire.

An investigation tracks a cell phone

“Google records obtained via search warrants show (Schneck’s) cell phone in the area of the arson at the correct time of the fire being set. City of Bettendorf traffic cameras show a car matching the description of (the driver’s) car with the right headlight out arrive in the area of the arson at the correct time of the fire being set. Security video from the TBK Bank Sports Complex
shows from a distance two persons at the porta-potty when it was set alight and a suspect vehicle with the right headlight out,” police allege in affidavits.

During interviews with both the driver and Schneck, they admitted to being present when the portable toilet was set alight with the incendiary device, and that Schneck admitted he used the device to set the toilet on fire.

After leaving the scene of the arson that same night, Google location data shows Schneck’s cell phone traveled to Jack’s Brake & Alignment, 3636 Eastern Ave., Davenport, where at 2:11 a.m. both people are seen and identified on Jack’s Brake & Alignment security video spray-painting graffiti on the business building and a vehicle at the business, police allege in affidavits.

“The cost to remove the graffiti from the Jack’s Brake & Alignment building was reported as $600,” police allege in affidavits. “They are also seen on video taking a red antique milk can (Value: $250) from the front of the business before departing in (the driver’s) car.”

During a search warrant executed at Schneck’s LeClaire address, the red milk can was recovered from the front walkway near the front door where it was being used as an ashtray holder.

Police say both admitted to spray-painting graffiti on the business and stealing the red milk can from the front entry area of the business.

During the search warrant execution at the LeClaire address, law enforcement located in Schneck’s bedroom a blue plastic egg that contained a baggie with 1.25 grams of marijuana inside. Also located in the bedroom was a glass jar, which contained 1.61 grams of marijuana.

A search warrant was executed at the other person’s Davenport address, where police allege they found a baggie with a total package weight of 8.26 grams of field tested positive psilocybin mushrooms. Also located was a baggie with 10.39 grams total package weight of marijuana with two blunts. Five tabs of suspected LSD were also located along with 1.56 grams of an unknown white powder in a small baggie. A small digital scale with residue and a glass pipe with residue were also located.

Schneck was being held on $5,000 bond Saturday in Scott County Jail. He is set to appear May 18 in Scott County court.