Police blotter – September 2018

Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Jefferson police department:

Sunday, Sept. 30: Routine activity reported.

Saturday, Sept. 29: At 2:11 am an officer noticed criminal mischief to Greene County High School. Toilet paper had been thrown in the trees and left on the ground. The officer is investigating. At 1:35 pm a complainant reported possibly being harassed in the 800 block of W. Mahlon St. The officer is investigating. At 8:41 pm an officer assisted the Greene County sheriff’s office with the investigation of a suspected case of operating a vehicle while intoxicated at the intersection of S. Elm St and Ram Drive.

Friday, Sept. 28: At 8:06 am staff at Harrison RV Land reported a few outside items had been moved around the property. This had been an ongoing issue, security cameras led to the identification of an 8-year- old male. The officer spoke with the male and a guardian regarding the issue. The child was advised not to return to the property. At 6:02 pm a complainant reported a female in the roadway near the intersection of Highway 30 and N. Elm St. It was reported the female was impeding the flow of traffic. The officer spoke with the female. She was attempting to direct traffic around a semi-truck / trailer broken down on Highway 30. The officer directed traffic until the vehicle was removed.

Thursday, Sept. 27: At 8:26 am staff at Harrison RV reported criminal mischief at the business overnight. Someone had shut power off to the business and tied an air hose to an RV. Camera footage provided to the officer shows a young male was responsible for the event. The officer is working to identify the juvenile. At 4:36 pm a complainant requested officers at a residence in the 800 block of W. Mahlon St. Officers arrived and learned the caller’s father had assaulted her brother and her. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Rickie Eugene Tuhn for assault- simple and assault causing bodily injury- serious*. At 8:10 pm a subject brought SnapChats of possible narcotic activity to an officer’s attention. The officer is investigating.

Wednesday, Sept. 26: At 7:12 pm a complainant reported an unauthorized use of a credit card by a family member. The card was used to withdraw money from her account. The officer is investigating.

Tuesday, Sept. 25: At 8:18 am a complainant reported a subject who rides a horse on McKinley St and does not clean up waste in the street from the animal. The officer is working to determine who the subject is and speak to them about the issue. At 10:30 am a complainant advised of phone messages left on her phone by a subject claiming to be a Navy investigator. The officer made some calls and learned the caller is a Navy investigator who is trying to speak to the complainant, as she may be a witness in an assault case.

Monday, Sept. 24: At 4:51 pm an officer investigated a property damage accident at N. Elm and W. Washington St. Kristin Lentz was northbound on Elm in her 2002 Buick LeSabre. Sharon Johnson was eastbound on W. Washington St in her 1997 Nissan Maxima. Johnson stopped at the stop sign as posted and proceeded into the intersection, in front of Lentz. The vehicles collided in the intersection. Johnson was cited for failure to obey stop sign. Both vehicles had a reported $2,000 in damages to the front ends. At 5:20 pm staff at Oly’s Corner advised of a gas drive off in the amount of $29.14. The officer is investigating.

Sunday, Sept. 23: At 3:42 pm a complainant reported witnessing a subject fall/get pushed out of a moving semi on Highway 30 five miles west of Jefferson. The driver stopped and pushed the subject back in the cab and left heading east Highway 30. Jefferson officers responded to 220th Street, but did not locate the reported semi. ***** An officer has requested arrest warrants for several subjects after completing the investigation into criminal mischief to a vehicle in the 200 block of Edgewood Ave on 9/17. A 2006 Monte Carlo had been keyed on all body panels, causing $4,755 in damage. A juvenile arrest warrant has been requested for a 17-year-old male for conspiracy to commit non-forcible felony (Class D felony) and trespass causing damage greater than $2,000 (serious misdemeanor)*. Arrest warrants on the same charges have been requested for Kaden Lowe, 19, of Grand Junction and Braxton Holderby, 18  of Jefferson* . Arrest warrants have also been requested for  Elisha Ward, 18, of Jefferson and Kooper Behrens, 20, of Carroll on charges of trespass causing damage greater than $200 and criminal mischief- second degree (Class D felony)*.

Saturday, Sept. 22: At 1 pm a complainant reported the theft of a power washer from a residence in the 700 block of W. South St. The theft had occurred in early June. The officer is investigating. At 3:59 pm staff at Dollar General reported three juveniles in the store making a mess of the business. The officer arrived and made contact with one of the three juveniles. He advised they had been playing hide and seek in the business. His mother was contacted to pick him up and he was advised he was no longer welcome in the store. The officer later made contact with the other two juveniles and a parent and advised them the same.

Friday, Sept. 21: At 8:14 am an officer was requested at the middle school to pick up a stolen cell phone. A student had the cell phone, which was reported stolen to the sheriff’s office. The officer took custody of the phone and passed it to the deputy working the investigation. At 5:13 pm a deputy advised of a male walking in the 1800 block of N. Elm St carrying a sword. The officer made contact with the male and learned it was an umbrella, not a sword. At 9:22 pm an officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle on S. Elm St near Greenewood Rd. During the stop the officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, the officer located two smoking devices containing a green leafy substance. The items were seized for lab testing. Charges are pending the test results.

Thursday, Sept. 20: At 9:01 am staff at Casey’s General Store reported someone had attempted to make entry into a gas pump. The pump was damaged and appeared as if someone had pried on the keyboard area. The officer is investigating. At 9:12 pm a complainant reported witnessing a vehicle back into a van in the Hy-Vee parking lot and drive away. Both vehicles were gone from the parking lot when the officer arrived. Video from the store provided the officer with registration plates for both vehicles. He is attempting to contact the owners.

Wednesday, Sept. 19: At 1 am a complainant advised of two juveniles walking in the area of the 700 block of W. Adams St. While checking the area the officer located a female juvenile. She advised that she and her brother had snuck out of their residence and were walking around town. The officer returned the female to her residence and spoke to a parent. Both juveniles were cited for curfew violation. At 8:40 am an officer investigated a backing accident at Oly’s Corner. Jason Gurney of Des Moines was backing his 2016 Kenworth dump truck in the parking lot and struck a metal light pole. Damage to the pole was estimated at $4,000. Gurney’s truck sustained very minor damage.

Tuesday, Sept. 18: At 9:27 am Greene County deputies and Jefferson Fire were asked to assist officers with a juvenile male who ran from teachers at Greene County Elementary. The student ended up hiding in a nearby cornfield for several minutes. Officers were able to locate him as he ran from the cornfield to backyards in the 600 block of S. Cedar St. The student was taken home to a parent. At 11:57 am staff at the Methodist Church requested officers for an unwanted male in the parking lot. The officer spoke to the male and advised him he was no longer welcome on the property. The male left without incident. At 2:22 pm officers were requested at Greene County Middle School to assist with two unruly female students. At 4:59 pm staff at Hy-Vee reported a female pushed a shopping cart full of groceries out of the business without paying for the items. A male picked her up in a vehicle and they sped off. Video of the event showed a plate on the vehicle, registered to a Boone couple. The officer is working with Boone PD to contact the couple. The investigation continues. At 7:32 pm officers assisted Greene County EMS with a possible overdose in the 700 block of S. Locust St. At 10:13 pm an officer assisted EMS with a possible overdose in the 600 block of E. Lincoln Way.

Monday, Sept. 17: At 4:11 pm a complainant reported a possible domestic abuse assault occurring with her estranged husband at a residence in the 700 block of W. Sunset Rd. The officer is investigating. At 5:15 pm staff at Oly’s Corner reported a male yelling at customers. The subject left before the officer’s arrival. At 5:15 pm officers were called to the Greene County Medical Center emergency room for the same male screaming at ER staff. The subject left ER before the officer arrived. The officer located him a short time later and arrested Christopher Laurent, 49, (homeless), for disorderly conduct*. *****An arrest warrant was requested for Jodi Nichol Fiferlick, 30, of Fort Dodge for theft- fifth degree*. The charge stems from a report of alcohol stolen from Hy-Vee on 9/05. *****An officer completed an investigation into a fraudulent check that was cashed at Home State Bank on 8/23. The $8,709.72 check was learned to have been forged. An arrest warrant was requested for Daniel Eduardo Westrum, 41, of Des Moines for forgery- D felony*. ***** After receiving test results of items seized during a traffic stop on 5/12 on Highway 30 near Elm St, arrest warrants have been requested for Travis Christopher Fincel, 43, of Grand unction for possession of methamphetamine- third or subsequent offense, Class D felony, and possession of drug paraphernalia*. ***** Warrants have been requested related to a domestic situation on 9/12 in the 500 block of S. Wilson for Denise Katherine Beadle, 40, of Jefferson for domestic abuse assault- serious and violation of a no contact order*, and for Bradlee Gene Beadle, 48, of Jefferson for violation of a no contact order*.

Sunday, Sept. 16: At 1:24 am officers responded to Cobblestone Inn for a fire alarm activation. No fire was located and the alarm was reset. At 4:30 am a complainant reported his 2001 Chevrolet Suburban was stolen from the parking lot at Wild Rose Casino. The vehicle was parked there at about 11:30 pm Saturday and was now missing. The officers reviewed video and developed a suspect from Fort Dodge in the theft. After assistance from the Fort Dodge police department, the vehicle was returned to Jefferson. The owner was no longer supportive of criminal charges in the matter. At 10:45 am a complainant reported the theft of fuel from his boat in the 600 Block of E. Adams St. Twenty gallons of gasoline had been removed from the boat. At 9:23 pm a complainant reported catching a male attempting to enter her parked vehicle in the Hy-Vee parking lot. The male rode away on a bike after she yelled at him. The officer did not locate the subject. At 9:42 pm a complainant reported he had been assaulted by a male while at a residence in the 400 block of N. Chestnut St. The officer is investigating the reported assault.

Saturday, Sept. 15: At 1:58 am officers were requested at Wild Rose Casino for an assault occurring there. The officer’s investigation led him to request an arrest warrant for Willian Griffin, 43, of Rippey for assault- serious*. At 1:46 pm Nicole Gibson reported she had parked at Hy-Vee the previous day and her rental vehicle was damaged. The officer is investigating the reported event. At 2:15 pm officers responded to the courthouse after dispatch received two 911 hang-up calls from the pay phone. A wedding was taking place and the officer believed small children had placed the calls. At 2:15 pm staff at New Hope Bargain Shoppe reported trash being dumped in the alley behind the store. The officer is investigating.

Friday, Sept. 14: At 12:40 pm staff at Greene County High School advised of another student caught with a vaping device. The juvenile was cited for possession of tobacco/vape product. At 2 pm staff at Durbin Automotive reported a male on a bicycle taking cans from the Kiwanis can drop in the former Shopko parking lot. The officer is investigating. At 7:38 pm officer checked the area of N. West and W. State Sts after dispatch received three 911 hang-up calls from the area. No one in need of assistance was located in the area. At 11:11 pm officer spoke to a homeless couple and advised them Kelso Park was closed. The couple went on their way.

Thursday, Sept. 13: At 1:41 am an officer located a group of subjects standing in the 600 block of S. Maple St who began to run as the officer approached them. The officer located one subject a short time later and spoke with him. The subject would not supply the names of the others in the group and advised he ran because they all did. The subject was advised to go home for the evening. At 6:22 am an officer was advised of a homeless couple sleeping in the restroom at Kelso Park. The officer advised the couple to leave and advised they would be arrested in the future for being in the park after hours. At 11:51 am staff at White Oak Station advised of a male minor attempting to purchase a vapor product. The officer is investigating. Vaping products can not be purchased or possessed by minors by state law. At 10:34 pm an officer located two open storage units at Shelter Stor-All. He made contact with the owner of the units and learned the owner had not been there in some time. It was reported to the officer that items were missing from the unit. The officer is investigating.

Wednesday, Sept. 12: At 12 am a subject brought a stray dog to the LEC they had found running out in the county. The officer placed the animal in the animal holding facility. At 2:18 pm a complainant reported a male on a golf cart attempting to remove items from his property in the 500 block of N. Vine St. The officer made contact with the subject on the cart and advised him to stay off of the complainant’s property. At 11:46 pm officers were called to a residence in the 500 block of S. Wilson for an argument occurring there. The officer is still investigating the reported event.

Tuesday, Sept. 11: At 9:20 am officers assisted with two juveniles that walked away from the Greene County Middle School. The officer located the two and they were turned over to parents. At 11:24 am an officer checked on a reported downed line in the 300 block of W. Russell St. Jefferson Telecom was notified as the line was a cable TV line. At 12:30 pm an officer began an investigation at Greene County High School into a physical struggle involving two female juveniles. Charges are pending at this time. At 3:50 pm a mother reported her juvenile son was assaulted at the middle school on 9/07. She was not supportive of criminal charges, but wished for the officer to speak to the other juvenile involved and his parent. The officer met with a parent of the male and spoke with her about the reported event.

Monday, Sept. 10: At 5:15 am a complainant brought a stray dog to the LEC he had located at Lincoln Way and Cedar St. The animal was placed in the animal holding facility. At 9:14 am a PAWS volunteer requested an officer at the animal holding facility after a male was making threats to the workers for not releasing his animal back to him. The officer advised the male of the procedure he must complete to have his animal released and advised him to stay away from the facility or face charges for disorderly conduct. At 1:10 pm staff at Durbin Automotive reported a license plate being stolen off a vehicle their lot. The officer is investigating. At 3:58 pm an officer investigated a backing accident at the gravel parking lot north of the high school athletic field. A parked 1999 Jeep Cherokee owned by Andrea Wailes of Scranton was backed into by Gailee Richter of Jefferson, who was driving a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck owned by Chad Richter of Jefferson. Both units incurred a reported $500 in damages. No citation issued as the accident occurred outside the roadway on private property. At 4:07 pm staff at First Presbyterian Church requested an officer for a very rude male subject requesting help from the church. The officer later located the male and identified him as a homeless subject from Sheldon who was passing through town. He was advised to stay away from the church. At 9:50 pm staff at Dollar General reported an abandoned bicycle at the store. The bike was placed in the impound facility.

Sunday, Sept. 9: At 1:26 am an officer responded to the Sparky’s parking lot for a backing accident. Jose Vargas of Houston, TX, was parked in front of Sparky’s in a 2017 Chevy van. As he was backing out to leave, he struck a 2003 Ford F-150 operated by Sterling Sorensen of Portsmouth and towing a trailer that was parked at the gas pumps. The van caused $1,000 to the passenger side of the truck and trailer. The van also sustained $1,000 in damages. At 8:20 am an officer responded to the 100 block of N. Cedar St for a hit-and-run accident. The officer found a 1997 Ford Expedition owned by Tickcha Jaimes of Jefferson that was legally parked on the west side of the 100 block of N. Cedar St. Witnesses reported a 2005 Buick Lacrosse struck the rear on of the Expedition while traveling southbound on Cedar St. Damage to the Expedition was estimated at $3,000. Witnesses on scene advised the vehicle took off and left the scene after hitting the car. After being provided a description of the vehicle, officers were able to locate the vehicle in the Wild Rose Casino parking lot. The officer located the driver, later identified as Tianna Diekman of Des Moines, inside of the casino. Diekman advised the officer she could not see out of her windshield because of the morning dew. She advised when she struck the vehicle, she became scared and drove off. Diekman was cited for failure to maintain control, failure to report accident, failure to have a valid driver’s license and failure to provide proof of security against liability- accident related. At 12:17 pm an officer responded to the 400 block of W. Greenewood Rd for a backing accident. Amber Godwin advised Dorothy Taylor backed up and struck her legally parked 2014 Ford Fusion. Taylor was driving a 2008 Ford Taurus. Taylor was cited for unsafe backing on highway. At 5:55 pm an officer responded to Sparky’s for a report of a diesel drive-off valued at $310. An officer is investigating. At 7:56 pm Brenda Kennedy was arrested for an active Greene County arrest warrant for theft- fifth degree*. At 11:54 pm officers responded to a residence in the 200 block S. Olive St for a report of domestic violence. After officers completed their initial investigation Amanda Goodpaster, 30, of Jefferson was arrested for domestic abuse assault causing injury- first offense. ***** Arrest warrants have been requested for Robert Kovar, 33, of Jefferson for two counts of trespass and theft- fifth degree*, both simple misdemeanors. The charges stem from a report from 8/20 of Kovar walking onto property in the 900 block of E. Lincoln Way and stealing car batteries out of junk vehicles. The same day it was reported that Kovar was stealing electricity from a residence in the 300 block of E. McKinley St after running a drop cord from that residence to power his own residence.

Saturday, Sept. 8: Between 7:21 and 9:35 am officers responded to three calls of the same couple having loud arguments at public places. At 2:14 pm a complainant reported a theft of a cell phone. An officer is investigating.

Friday, Sept. 7: At 12:52 pm a complainant reported a theft of medication. An officer is investigating. At 9:53 pm officers responded to the intersection of N. Elm St and Highway 30 for a traffic accident. Robert Van Horn was westbound on Highway 30 driving a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse. Jade Spaulding was northbound on Elm St driving a 2011 Ford Taurus. Both drivers stopped as posted and proceeded into the intersection. Van Horn struck the passenger side doors of Spaulding’s vehicle. Damage to Van Horn’s vehicle was estimated at $3,000. Damage to Spaulding’s was estimated at $10,000. Spaulding was cited for failure to yield to the vehicle on the right.

Thursday, Sept. 6: At 10:52 am staff at HyVee reported a theft of alcohol. An officer is investigating. At 12:30 pm an officer responded to Greene County High School for a report of a student who was found to be in possession of a vapor product. The student was cited for minor using tobacco/vapor product- first offense. At 11:30 pm officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of E. Monroe St for a report of an attempted burglary. An officer is investigating.

Wednesday, Sept. 5: At 1:02 pm a complainant reported damage to a door at the Greene County Conservation public shower house adjacent to the bike trail. At 2:41 pm staff at Greene County High School reported confiscating vaping devices from two students. The officer will be following up with citations for possession of tobacco products under age. At 4:43 pm officers arrested Rodney J. Blackmon on outstanding Kentucky arrest warrants for probation violations*. Blackmon will be extradited to Kentucky to face the charges.

Tuesday, Sept. 4: At 6:28 am a city employee advised an officer he had located a homeless female sleeping in the restroom at Head Park. The officer made contact with the female ad advised her she could not be in the park in the evenings after close at 11 pm. At 8:51 am a complainant reported a male on a bicycle screaming at her as she rode her bike on the bike trail near the fairgrounds. The officer made contact with a homeless male in the area, who denied the accusations. He was asked to leave the area and move along. At 10:59 am staff at Dollar General requested an officer there for a report as a semi driver had struck the building while backing into the loading dock. The trailer had minor damages estimated at $500, while the DG building suffered a reported $3,000 in damages. At 1:49 pm an officer assisted the sheriff’s office with the execution of a search warrant in the 700 block of N. Cedar St. Possible personal use amounts of narcotics were seized for testing by the deputy. At 3:17 pm a complainant reported the theft of firewood from a residence in the 500 block of N. Vine St. A suspect has been developed in the matter. At 4:20 pm a complainant reported a male on a bicycle came to his residence and asked to use a tire pump. When the complainant said he didn’t have one, the male began cursing at him. The officer made contact with the male, Christopher Adelbert Laurent, 49, homeless, and arrested him for disorderly conduct (simple misdemeanor)*. At 5:21 pm a complainant reported theft of services (electricity) from a building in the 200 block of W. Washington St. The officer is investigating.

Monday, Sept. 3: ***** Adam Michael Winger, 38 of Jefferson has been charged with trespass- simple* after the completion of an officer’s investigation of someone allegedly peering into windows at Regency Park on 8/27. Winger is on parole and  wears an ankle tracking device, which showed he was involved in the incident.

Sunday, Sept. 2: Routine activity reported.

Saturday, Sept. 1: At 10:53 am an officer investigated a backing accident in the 100 block of N. Chestnut St. Troy Powers of Jefferson attempted to back from a parking space but struck a passing 1999 Oldsmobile Alero owned and operated by Twila Lindsey of Jefferson. Powers was cited for unsafe backing upon a highway. Damage to his vehicle was estimated at $500. Damage to Lindsey’s vehicle was estimated at $800. At 11:18 am a resident advised of a stray dog in the 600 block of S. Chestnut St. The animal was placed in the animal holding facility. At 1:16 pm an officer was advised of a dog bite that occurred 8/13 in the 300 block of E. Monroe St. The officers made contact with the animal’s owners and advised that per city ordinance the animal in now “Illegal” and must leave the city limits. At 8:23 pm a complainant reported damage to a window of his residence in the 600 block of W. Harrison St. The damage was possible done by a BB gun. The officer is investigating the damage.

*Note: All charges are merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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