Police blotter – July 2019

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

Wednesday, July 31: At 5:44 pm a complainant advised he located three male juveniles sitting in is vehicle in the 300 block of E. Madison St. He had chased the boys off before the officer arrived. The officer is investigating the event. At 7:01 pm an officer investigated a backing accident in the Dairy Queen parking lot. A 2004 Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck owned by Robert Irlbeck of Templeton was parked on the west side of the lot. Another patron witnessed a vehicle back into Irlbeck’s vehicle and drive away. The patron gave the officer a vehicle description and plate number for the vehicle. The officer located the 2002 Ford Taurus at the owner’s residence. Kyle Otto advised he was unaware he had struck a vehicle before leaving Dairy Queen. The Irlbeck vehicle had a reported $1,500in damages, while the Otto vehicle had a reported $500 in damages. No citations were issued as the accident occurred on private property.

Tuesday, July 30: At 6:50 pm a complainant advised she witnessed a young couple pushing a baby stroller remove an Amazon package off the porch of a house in the 400 block of S. Chestnut St. The complainant approached the couple and demanded the package from them. The package was returned to the owner. The officer did not locate the couple and is investigating the event. At 11:51 pm an officer found ice cream had been thrown all over the walls in the restrooms at Russell Park.

Monday, July 29: At 4:20 pm a resident reported receiving a phone call from a male advising he works for Social Security. He requested her date of birth and Social Security number. The resident recognized this as a scam call and did not provide any information to the caller. At 9:08 pm a complainant in the 100 block of E. Central Ave reported a family member had stolen her paycheck. She provided the officer with a suspect but no contact information. The officer is investigating. ***** An officer issued 11 parking violation notices on the downtown square for street sweeping violations.

Sunday, July 28: At 12:30 am a complainant requested an officer at a residence in the 200 block of E. McKinley St for a female refusing to leave. The officer made numerous attempts to have the female leave the residence, but she refused. The officer arrested Brianne Kara Wolf, 28, of Grand Junction for disorderly conduct ( simple misdemeanor)*. At 10 am staff at the Jefferson public library reported damage to an outside lamp post on the north side of the building. The post had been broken at the base, causing the electrical wiring to be exposed. The estimate to repair the light post is $200. At 7:35 pm an officer investigated a two-vehicle property damage accident at N. Oak and W. Washington Sts. Chelsey Phipps of Tennessee was southbound on Oak St. Michele Madsen of Jefferson was eastbound on Washington. Phipps failed to yield and the vehicles collided in the intersection. Phipps was cited for failure to provide proof of financial liability- accident related. Madsen was cited for failure to stop or yield. Damage to both vehicles was estimated at $3,000.

Saturday, July 27: At 9:55 am a complainant reported two men attempting to break into an vacant residence in the 700 block of N. Cedar St. The officer located two male subjects loading a refrigerator onto a trailer. They advised the property owner had given them permission to take the fridge. The officer verified this with the owner of the property. At 10:13 pm an officer locked his radar unit on a vehicle traveling 46 mph in a 35 mph zone in the 200 block of S. Elm St. The officer performed a traffic stop with the vehicle in the 200 block of W. Harrison St. While speaking to the driver, the officer noticed the strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. The officer performed a probable cause search of the vehicle and located suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and several unknown prescription pills in a duffle bag. The officer seized the items for testing. Brandon Fredrickson of Omaha, NE, was cited for “operation without registration. He faces further charges after testing is complete on the seized items. At 8:10 pm an officer investigated a traffic accident in the 1700 block of N. Elm St. Rosalyn Griffen of Jefferson was northbound in the outside lane driving her 2001 Dodge Caravan. She attempted to change to the inside lane but struck a northbound 2016 Ford Edge owned and operated by Dennis Joens of Buffalo Center. Griffen was cited for unsafe turn- fail to give signal. Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $1,500. Damage to Joens’ vehicle was estimated at $3,000.

Friday, July 26: At 8:56 am staff at Oly’s Corner advised of side-dump semi tractor-trailers dropping a wet material on the roadway at Elm St and W. Lincoln Way. The officer followed the trail of material on the roadway to a gravel pit site on Jordan Ave and spoke to a driver. They were hauling a compound from a water treatment site to their dumping location. The driver advised it was not harmful, but they would not drive through town with any further loads of the material. At 2:24 pm a complainant advised of a possible intoxicated driver on County Road E-53 heading west toward Jefferson. The officer located the vehicle and witnessed the driver cross the centerline of the roadway. A traffic stop was performed with the vehicle near the airport. The officer learned the subject was extremely tired after a long work shift and was not impaired by alcohol.

Thursday, July 25: At 11:34 am an officer investigated a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 200 block of N. Elm St. Virginia Purcell of Guthrie Center was northbound in the outside lane driving her 2009 Chevrolet Traverse. Purcell attempted to change lanes, but struck a northbound 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix owned and driven by Brianna Ferguson of Jefferson. Purcell was cited for improper use of lane. Damage to each vehicle was estimated at $1,000. At 1:03 pm staff at Peoples Bank advised the ATM had been struck overnight by a vehicle. The owner of the vehicle had reported the event to the bank in the morning. Ron Grimsley was operating his 2019 Kia Sorento in the drive thru. He attempted to pull up to the ATM and lightly struck the machine. The ATM suffered a reported $50 in damages, while the Grimsley vehicle had a reported $850 in damages. At 1:05 pm an officer responded to a call regarding a male who refused to leave a property. While investigating the call, the officer learned there was an outstanding Carroll County warrant for the arrest of an male at the residence. The officer arrested John Michael Johnson, 31, of Carroll for failure to appear*. The original charge was assault.

Wednesday, July 24: At 12:03 am reported criminal mischief at a residence in the 1200 block of S. Elm St. Someone had broken a window out of the residence. A baseball bat was located near the broken window and the officer believed it to the instrument used to break out the window. The officer spoke to some area youths about the event and is still investigating. At 9:52 am an officer located a 3-year-old child in the parking lot at the LEC. The child was unsupervised and barefoot. The officer knew the child lives at a nearby residence. The officer made contact with the child’s mother who had fallen asleep. The child left the residence. The officer immediately contacted DHS. At 5:08 pm staff at Greene County High School requested an officer to perform a welfare check on student in Jefferson. The officer made contact with the student and their parents. The officer assisted in coaxing the juvenile to ER for evaluation by a medical doctor. At 5:56 pm a caller advised of a subject burning stacks of paperwork in a firepit in the 400 block of E. Washington St. The officer spoke to the subject and advised only yard waste can be burned within the city limits. At 6:36 pm a caller advised of a vehicle parked at Daubendiek Park with two juvenile males walking in the area. The caller advised he had witnessed the same vehicle in the past and juveniles were damaging the restrooms at that time. The officer made contact with two juvenile males walking on the trail. In speaking with the two, the officer was provided information and suspects in the recent rash of criminal mischiefs occurring to city parks. The officer is investigating.

Tuesday, July 23: At 5:16 pm a caller advised of two juveniles destroying trees at Russell Park. The officer made contact with the two, who advised they had broken one small tree branch. The officer checked the park and found no other damage, but requested the two to leave the park for the remainder of the day.

Monday, July 22: At 3:06 pm a complainant advised of a teenage male on a scooter driving on the street in an unsafe matter in the 900 block of W. Harrison St. The teen had nearly struck the complainant’s vehicle as he passed him on the street. The officer eventually located the subject on the scooter in the 400 block of W. Clark St. The subject had been warned in the past about driving the motorized scooter on city streets. The officer had the scooter impounded and cited Nathan Hubbs, 14, for operation without registration*. A parent was contacted by the officer after the event. At 3:56 pm an officer overheard radio traffic from Boone County advising of a possible intoxicated driver on Highway 30 heading west. The officer later located a vehicle matching the description given by Boone County. A traffic stop was performed with the vehicle in the 600 block of S. Elm St for an excessive speed violation. The officer could smell alcohol coming from the driver and asked him to perform standard field sobriety testing. The subject passed the officer’s tests and was allowed on his way.

Sunday, July 21: At 12:40 pm a complainant reported a male yelling and screaming in the street in the 100 block of Harding Road. The officer arrived and made contact with the male. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Zachary Franklin Minnihan, 30, of Polk City for public intoxication (simple misdemeanor)*. At 3:33 am an officer was requested at Wild Rose Casino for the theft of a cell phone. The officer was provided video footage of the event by staff. The video showed the cell phone falling out of a female’s pocket onto the floor. A male witnesses this occur and walks to the phone. He picks the phone up and places it in his pocket. A short time later he leaves the facility. The male was still in his vehicle in the parking lot and the officer spoke to him about the incident. He denied having the cell phone. A short time later, the cell phone was located in a grassy area of the parking lot, near where the male had been parked. Charges are pending at this time.

Saturday, July 20: At 4:18 pm a caller advised a tree branch had been blown down in the storm at S. Walnut and W. Monroe Sts. The branch had taken down a powerline. The officer stood by the downed energized line until Alliant Energy arrived to fix it. At 4:23 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD by responding to a reported fire at Wild Rose Casino. The Jefferson fire department also responded. An electrical problem was found to be the source of the heavy smoke in the facility. At 5:15 pm a resident requested an officer at a residence in the 300 block of E. Monroe St. A tree branch had fallen on her garage, causing damage to the garage and her vehicle. The officer estimated the damage to the garage at $5,000 and $2,500 to her 2008 Chrysler Pacifica. At 5:30 pm a resident reported a tree down and partially blocking the road in the 600 block of E. Adams St. At 8:40 pm a complainant reported a broken tree limb hanging in the roadway in the 300 block of E. State St. City public works employees removed the hazard from the roadway.

Friday, July 19: At 8:24 pm a family member reported to officers that a suicidal male was held up in a residence in the 900 block of W. Harrison St with his 11-year-old son. Threats had been made against the male’s life, and that of his son. Officers were assisted by the Greene County sheriff’s office and the Iowa State Patrol when responding to the address. After several minutes, the male was coaxed out of the residence and taken into custody to be taken to ER for evaluation by a medical doctor. Sixteen firearms were located in the residence, with two fully loaded handguns. The firearms were removed and custody of them was given to a family member. The officers located narcotics and paraphernalia in plain sight all over the residence while searching for firearms. The items will be tested and future charges are pending.

Thursday, July 18: At 8:29 pm a complainant reported the theft of her registration plates while her vehicle was parked at Durbin Automotive. At 8:30 am staff at Durbin Automotive reported the registration plates were stolen off a second vehicle parked there. Both sets of plates are entered in NCIC as stolen. At 2:46 pm a complainant reported the theft of a dehumidifier from a residence in the 200 block of S. Walnut St. At 5:25 pm a complainant reported a stray dog in the 1100 block of N. Elm St. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility.

Wednesday, July 17: At 10:10 am a caller advised of a fire under a tree at in the 700 block of N. Cedar St. The officer spoke to a resident and learned he was burning construction waste. He was advised to put the fire out and advised only yard waste can be burned in town. At 8:40 pm an officer recognized a vehicle parked at the Wild Rose Casino that is often driven by a male with a barred driver’s license. The male has eluded numerous law enforcement agencies in the past year, including a Jefferson officer. The officer spoke with casino surveillance team members about the issue. They reviewed video and found the male had driven the vehicle to the casino and was still currently on the gaming floor. The officer eventually located the male on the east side of the Cobblestone Hotel. Ronald Lynn Becker, 48, of Boone, was arrested for driving while barred (aggravated misdemeanor)*. At 10:05 pm a complainant advised of a kitten trapped in a storm drain at E. Lincoln Way and Cedar St. The officer contacted a Jefferson firefighter and a Jefferson public works employee to assist. They were unable to retrieve the animal. At 11:27 pm the officer was advised the Ronald Becker had bonded out of the Greene County jail after the earlier arrest by the officer for driving while license barred. The officer saw Becker walking north towards the casino on N. Elm St. The officer asked the casino security staff to monitor the cameras and advise if Becker returned to his vehicle. The officer remained in the area. Not long after, casino staff advised the officer Becker was leaving the casino parking lot in the vehicle. The officer located the vehicle just north of the casino on Highway 4 and attempted a traffic stop with the vehicle. The vehicle did not stop and chase ensued. The vehicle turned west on 210 St and travelled westbound with the officer giving chase. The vehicle reached speeds of 95 mph on the paved road and 80 mph on 210 Street, which is gravel. At the T intersection of 210th St and M Ave, Becker was travelling too fast to make the turn and the vehicle entered the west ditch. Becker fled on foot. The officer was then assisted by several JPD officers, the Greene County sheriff’s office and K-9, the Boone County sheriff’s office K-9 and a Carroll County sheriff’s deputy. Becker was not located after a perimeter was established. The officer has requested arrest warrants for Ronald Lynn Becker, 48, of Boone for driving while barred and eluding (aggravated misdemeanor)*.

Tuesday, July 16: At 2:12 am while conducting a park check an officer located more graffiti with spray paint at Head Park. Officers are working with area businesses in attempts to develop suspects in the criminal mischiefs to area parks. At 8:31 am staff at Moe’s Mart at White Oak Station spoke with an officer about a bad check accepted there on 6/21. The correct procedure has been followed. The officer requested an arrest warrant for Ronald Allen Siedelmann, 63, of Audubon for theft- fifth degree*. At 3:50 pm a complainant reported the theft of a ladder valued at $200 from a residence in the 300 block of S. Chestnut St. At 4:48 pm a complainant reported two violations of a no contact order via Facebook Messenger. The officer is investigating. At 5:45 pm a complainant reported receiving threatening videos from her former husband. Officers spoke to the male; he admitted sending the videos to her. The officer arrested Shawn Allen Ellsbury, 51, of Jefferson for harassment- first degree (aggravated misdemeanor)*.

Monday, July 15: At 8:19 am staff at HyVee reported the theft of alcohol from the store. Video footage of the event was provided to the officer and a suspect has been identified. The officer is still investigating. At 9:19 pm staff at A & W Family Restaurant reported a truck in the drive-up lane with open alcoholic beverages in plain view. The officer located the vehicle. The officer’s investigation resulted in Caleb Byerly of Churdan being cited for open container- driver.

Sunday, July 14: At 12:22 pm a resident reported a tree branch had fallen and taken the powerline down in the 600 block of S. Walnut St. An Alliant Energy crew arrived to fix the issue. The Jefferson public works department came with a payloader to remove the branch from the roadway. At 4:21 pm a complainant reported finding sugar around her gas fill cap while her vehicle was parked in the 700 block of N. Wilson Ave. She did not know when it may have occurred. The officer is investigating the event. At 9:11 pm a complainant reported a burglary had occurred in the past few weeks at a residence in the 500 block of N. Chestnut St. Firearms and other property was missing. The officer is investigating.

Saturday, July 13: At 7:15 pm a resident located a stray dog in the 700 block of N. Cedar St. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility. At 8:21 pm a resident requested a welfare check on an 18-year-old male who lives at her residence. The male was at another residence and she was concerned after speaking to him by phone. The officer arrived at the residence and spoke to the male. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Caden Raye Emmick, 18, of Jefferson for possession of alcohol under legal age*. The resident of the apartment, Melissa Marie Rice, 23, of Jefferson was cited for permitting underage person to consume alcohol on property*.

Friday, July 12: At 2:47 pm a resident brought a stray dog to the LEC he had found in the 100 block of N. Elm St. The dog was placed in the animal holding facility. At 2:59 pm a complainant reported a dark pickup was tearing up the roadway at Henderson Park, just south of Jefferson. He advised the vehicle had departed and was heading toward town. The officer did not locate the reported vehicle. At 4:40 pm a complainant reported a possible burglary to a garage in the 600 block of S. Cedar St. The complainant did not know if anything was missing. The officer is investigating. At 10:16 a complainant reported a group of juveniles throwing rocks at cars in the 600 block of E. Lincoln Way. The officer did not locate anyone in the area. At 10:27 pm a complainant requested an officer at a residence in the 500 block of W. State St. She reported a female had assaulted her adult son. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Kelsi Elizabeth Gross, 29, of Scranton for domestic abuse assault – simple*.

Thursday, July 11: At 10:06 am an officer investigated a backing accident in the 600 block of N. Oak St. Barbara Walker backed her 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan into a parked 2019 Ford Edge owned by Katherine Pittman of Jefferson. Walker was cited for unsafe backing upon a highway. Damage to her vehicle was estimated at $50. Damage to Pittman’s vehicle was estimated at $200. At 10:37 am staff at Morton Buildings reported the theft of a laser level. There were no signs of forced entry into the business. The item is valued at $750. The officer is investigating. At 5:31 pm a complainant reported she received a call from a male advising she owed back taxes from when she lived in Texas. She told him she had never lived in Texas. He asked for her Social Security number to verify this and she gave it to the male. He hung up after receiving this information. The officer advised her this was a scam call and she needed to closely watch her credit history for unauthorized actions.

Wednesday, July 10: At 3:23 am a complainant requested an officer at a residence in the 100 block of S. Maple St for a male subject pounding on the apartment windows and yelling about his daughter. The officer arrived and made contact with the male outside. He advised the officer that his young daughter lives there with her mother and he has shared custody. He advised he was concerned about the welfare of his daughter. The officer advised him to leave the property and seek an attorney, as he was very close to being charged with disorderly conduct. The male left the area. At 4:52 am a call from a residence in the 500 block of E. Clark St resulted in the caller transporting her brother to the Greene County Medical Center emergency department to be evaluated for mental health issues. At 6:41 am ER staff advised a male patient had just left ER against his doctor’s advice as he was being evaluated for mental health issue. Officers began searching for the subject. At 1:57 pm officers were called back to the same residence in the 100 block of S. Maple St as earlier in the day. The male was pounding on windows and doors while screaming profanities. The officers arrived and did not see the male. As they spoke with the female party, the male came back and was screaming profanities towards the occupants. The officer spoke to the male and advised him to leave and not return, or he would face criminal charges. The male walked from the area. As officers were continuing to speak with the female party, the male returned to the area. As officers approached him, he made threatening gestures and advised he would assault the officers. An officer withdrew his taser and ordered the male to put his hands behind his back. He refused to follow the officer’s commands and continued to approach them. The officer fired his taser and both officers attempted to handcuff the male. After a short struggle, the officers were able to handcuff the male subject. James Leon Cunningham, 44, no home town, was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine- second offense (aggravated misdemeanor), interference with official acts-assault on persons in certain occupations (serious misdemeanor), and disorderly conduct and trespass (simple misdemeanors)*. He was also charged with criminal mischief (simple misdemeanor) after the female located a tire on her vehicle had been cut and Cunningham’s knife matched the puncture hole on the tire. At 6:16 pm staff at Brown Funeral Home called and advised of an abandoned motorcycle on private property there. The officer learned the motorcycle belongs to James Cunningham. The motorcycle was towed to the impound lot. At 7:47 pm a complainant reported his wife’s dog had bit his wife’s leg as she drove past their residence on a motorized scooter. The officer arrived and spoke to the female and was shown very faint scratch marks oh her leg. The officer spoke to several people who witnessed the event. He determined the animal had approached her as she passed on the sidewalk and jumped up and placed his paws in her lap for attention, causing the scratches. The animal was on its own property, but the officer warned the animal’s owner that people have a right to use the public sidewalk without being approached by their animal. At 6:43 pm medical center ER staff advised a male patient had walked out of ER before the doctor could finish evaluating him for a mental health issue. The officer located the subject a few blocks from the hospital and spoke with him. The officer was able to coax the male back to ER.

Tuesday, July 9: At 12:28 am officers were requested at Wild Rose Casino for an underage person smoking a cigarette in front of the building. The officer arrived and spoke to the subjects. The officer’s investigation led to Jamison Smithson, 15, of Jefferson being cited for minor using tobacco/vapor product.  At 2:54 pm a complainant reported damage to a window in a residence in the 300 block of S. Wilson Ave. She was also missing a rug from inside the residence, but could not advise how long ago the rug went missing. The officer is investigating. At 3:45 pm an officer was requested at HyVee for a possible violation of a no contact order.  After reviewing video footage of the event, the officer located the male and performed a traffic stop in the 200 block of S. Wilson Ave. The officer arrested Carl William Hale, 65, of Jefferson for violation of a no contact order (simple misdemeanor)*. Another officer had requested an arrest warrant for Hale earlier in the day after investigating a report of another violation on Sunday at Lincoln Way and Wilson Ave. Hale was booked into the county jail on the two warrants. At 5:48 pm a complainant reported the theft of her wallet from her vehicle while it was parked at Wild Rose Casino. Video surveillance showed a female enter the vehicle and rummage through items inside. The female then enters the casino and attempts to use a bank card taken from the complainant’s purse. The ATM denied the transaction. The officer had developed a suspect from the video and the investigation is on-going.

Monday, July 8: At 5:58 am a deputy requested an officer to assist him by dispatching a sick deer on County Road E-53 (235th St) near the river bridge. At 9:18 am staff at HyVee turned in a counterfeit $5 bill. The business received the bill sometime over the weekend. At 5:17 pm a caller advised of a fire behind a residence in the 400 block of N. Chestnut St. The caller advised juveniles were attempting to put the fire out with buckets of water. The officer arrived and learned a pile of lumber was burning, but had been put out before the officer’s arrival. No one could explain how the fire started in the lumber pile. At 9:15 pm a complainant reported a possible violation of a no contact order occurring at the municipal pool. The officer is investigating the report.

Sunday, July 7: At 7:50 pm two callers advised of a male riding a bicycle and knocking on doors offering to paint their house numbers on the curb in front of their residence for a fee. The officer knows the reported subject and is working to locate him about door to door sales without a permit from city hall.

Saturday, July 6: At 6:39 pm a complainant reported fireworks going off near N. Chestnut and E. McKinley Sts. The officer did not locate the source. At 10:50 pm a complainant advised of fireworks being set off on S. Grimmell Rd. Subject in the area had obtained a fireworks permit from the city and were allowed to set them off.

Friday, July 5: At 10:35 am a Greene County Fair board member requested an officer at the shower/bath House at the fairgrounds. A couple had been locked in one restroom for approximately eight hours. The officer was able to get the couple to unlock the door and speak with him. The couple were both advised not to return to the property, or face charges for trespassing. At 10:03 pm a complainant advised of fireworks being set off in the 600 block of S. Maple St. The officer did not locate the source of the fireworks. At 10:07 pm another caller advised of fireworks near the Jefferson municipal pool in the 700 block of S. Maple St. At 10:45 pm a complaint advised of fireworks in the 800 block of W. Adams St. The officer spoke to a group in the area and advised them to end the fireworks, since they did not have a permit to set them off.

Thursday, July 4: At 6:14 pm an anonymous caller reported possible criminal activity in the 400 block of N. Vine St. At 8:28 pm an anonymous caller advised of fireworks being shot in the 500 block of N. Wilson Ave. At 8:34 pm a complainant advised of fireworks being shot off in the 500 block of N. Vine St. At 8:51 pm an officer responded to a car-deer accident in the 1800 block of N. Elm St. Daniella Fehring of Nevada was driving a 2010 Honda Fit owned by Jean Martin, also of Nevada, struck a deer. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $750. At 10:09 pm a complainant advised of fireworks in the 500 block of W. Harrison St. At 11:14 pm as a result of a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 30 and N. Elm St, Ignacio Melendez Leiva, 41, of Perry was cited for speed, open container of alcohol and no valid driver’s license. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed Leiva was displaying signs of intoxication. Leiva was subsequently arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (serious misdemeanor)*.

Wednesday, July 3: At 12:04 am a complainant reported three juveniles throwing rocks at a building in the 600 block of N. Elm St. At 2:21 pm a complainant reported a burglary in the 500 block of W. Washington St. The officer was advised two gift cards and two electronic devices were taken from a vehicle parked inside a garage. Officers are investigating. At 2:36 pm officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of E. Lincoln Way for a report of trespassing. At 3:17 pm officers investigated an accident in the 100 block of N. Elm St. Jonathan Thede of Churdan attempted to turn from Elm St onto W. State Street but struck vehicle driven by Clifton Long. Thede was cited for unsafe turn. Damage to the vehicle Long was driving, a 2003 Chevrolet Suburban owned by Nora Long of Jefferson, was estimated at $900. Damage to Thede’s 1991 Chevrolet Suburban was also estimated at $900.

Tuesday, July 2: At 12:48 pm a complainant reported the theft of a computer and a cell phone from a residence in the 300 block of N. Chestnut St. The officer is investigating. At 2:44 pm a complainant reported a suspicious vehicle parked in the 300 block of N. Locust St. The officer learned it belonged to a neighbor.

Monday, July 1: At 6:16 am park and rec employees reported criminal mischief to the shelter house at Kelso Park. The ceiling had been spray painted with graffiti. It will cost an estimated $200 to cover the graffiti. The officer is investigating. The police department has stepped up park patrols recently due to the rash of vandalism in our parks.  At 7:28 am a complainant advised of a stray dog at a residence in the 400 block of Rushview Drive. The officer placed the animal in the animal holding facility. At 8:57 am a complainant reported a fight in progress between two male subjects in the 400 block of N. Maple St. The officer arrived and made contact with both subjects. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Rickie Eugene Tuhn, 58, of Jefferson for disorderly conduct (simple misdemeanor)*. After the arrest, the officer learned there is an active protective order prohibiting Tuhn from contact with a female involved in this event. The officer has applied for an arrest warrant for Tuhn for violation of a protective order (simple misdemeanor)*. At 11:01 am an officer investigated a backing accident n the 400 block of S. Chestnut St. Debra Kinsey of Jefferson backed her 2008 Saturn Aura into a parked vehicle while backing from a private drive. Kinsey was cited for unsafe backing upon a highway. Damage to the parked vehicle, a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox owned by Linda Ross of Jefferson, was estimated a $1,000. Damage to Kinsey’s vehicle was estimated at $500.

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

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