Following almost a year of investigation, six individuals were taken into police custody and charged this week in connection with a string of burglaries and thefts in the Grand Lake area, according to local officials.

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday confirmed the arrests of Grand Lake area residents Adam Pritt, 25; Michael “Colin” Sabo, 44; Candice Hewitt, 33; Joshua Miles, 25; Jorge Varella, 29; and Paul Asbury, 46. All six were taken into custody between Aug. 21 and 28.

The six are alleged to have committed at least 40 different burglaries that included 17 victims, which were reported between October 2017 and April 2018, according to officials. The burglaries largely occurred at homes between Grand Lake and Granby.

Prior to any arrests, the case was thrust into the public eye in December after police attempted to make contact with one of the suspects in the case. That suspect, along with another man, fled from law enforcement and prompted a multi-day manhunt in the heavily timbered national forest land around Stillwater Pass Road.

“We are very happy to have this all put together and presented and to have people in custody for it,” said Lt. Dan Mayer of the Grand County Sheriff’s Office.

Arrest warrants in the case were issued Aug. 20 and authorities began taking the suspects into custody early last week with the final two arrests made Tuesday.

Asbury and Varella, the first two suspects taken into custody, have since been released from custody. Asbury, released on a $5,000 bond, has been charged with possession of burglary tools and felony theft. Varella, out on a $20,000 bond, has been charged with second-degree burglary and felony theft.

Both Candice Hewitt and Michael “Colin” Sabo were taken into custody Aug. 22. Sabo was released the following day on a $10,000 bond, being charged with second-degree burglary, misdemeanor criminal mischief and multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor theft. Sabo already faces unrelated charges of second-degree burglary and theft.

Hewitt, released Aug. 25 on a $10,000 bond, has been charged with second-degree burglary and felony theft.

Miles and Pritt were taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with felony theft. The two were issued a bond of $5,000, but still remained incarcerated, according to Mayer.

Mayer acknowledged the investigation’s length, which many concerned residents came to criticize, as he highlighted the case’s complexity.

“It was a very complex case with a lot of victims and a lot of property,” Mayer said. “Some of the crimes weren’t reported until the last few months. I am happy that it came together as well as it did.”