Police blotter – October 2019

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

Thursday, Oct. 31: At 5:31 pm during a traffic stop in the 600 block of W. Adams St, an officer arrested Samantha Monique Henderson, 26, of Jefferson on an outstanding Greene County arrest warrant for fail to appear.* The original charge was driving while license revoked.

Wednesday, Oct. 30: At 10 am the Fort Dodge PD requested an officer to speak with a male in the 900 block of S. Elm St after the Joe Biden campaign had received threats from the subject. The subject advised he was tired of the campaign phone calls and had no intention on carrying out any threats. The information was sent back to the Secret Service. At 12:37 pm officers were requested at a residence in the 400 block of E. Harrison St for a reported domestic abuse assault occurring there. The officers’ investigation led to the arrest of Jason William Sheldahl, 48 of Jefferson for domestic abuse assault- first offense (simple misdemeanor)*. At 6:55 pm officers assisted the Jefferson fire department with a structure fire at 301 W. Lincoln Way. A small fire was located in a second story bathroom, possibly caused by a space heater. Damage was confined to the bathroom, with $10,000 estimated for repairs. During the event, fire fighters advised officers of a smoking device in plain sight in the bathroom. After receiving a consent search from the occupants, an officer located and removed the smoking device, suspected marijuana, marijuana wax, and unlabeled prescription drugs from the residence. Charges are pending after lab testing is completed. *****Arrest warrants have been requested for Kayden Allen Nelson, 18, of Jefferson after the officer received lab results on seized items. The officer seized the items from an apartment at 102 S. Grimmell Rd on 10/8 after a family member advised they had located them in Nelson’s belongings. It was also reported to the officer that Nelson had taken the subject’s vehicle without permission. The warrants requested are for possession of controlled substance – first offense (serious misdemeanor) and operation without owner’s consent (aggravated misdemeanor)*.

Tuesday, Oct. 29: At 1:45 am a deputy requested an officer to respond to a one-vehicle accident on Highway 30 west of Jefferson on the Raccoon River bridge as the deputy was busy with a domestic assault call in the county. Christopher David Murphy of Jefferson was eastbound on Highway 30 when he encountered ice on the roadway at the bridge and lost control of his 2005 Jeep Liberty. After striking both sides of the bridge the vehicle came to rest against the south guardrail. Greene County Ambulance responded to check the driver and passenger for injuries; no transport was needed. Murphy was cited for failure to maintain control. Damage to his vehicle exceeded value. Damage to the bridge was estimated at $200. At 11:01 am staff at city hall advised of a stray dog there. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility. *****After an investigation initiated on 10/24, Stephanie Chapman of Yale was cited for unsafe passing of a school bus. A Greene County school bus driver reported to an officer that a vehicle had passed the stopped school bus while the lights and stop stick were activated in the 300 block of S. Vine St.

Monday, Oct. 28: A 8:35 am a complainant reported she had lost her debit card at Wild Rose Casino. Before she could have the bank cancel the card, it had been used twice at a Jefferson business. The officer is investigating.

Sunday, Oct. 27: At 9:25 pm a complainant requested assistance in the 500 Block of W. South St for a female refusing to turn over a handgun. Officers responded and made contact with the female, who provided them with the firearm.

Saturday, Oct. 26: At 4:33 am a complainant advised an officer she had provided her bank and other personal information to a subject during a phone call. The officer advised her to contact the bank and close her account. At 8:09 pm staff at Fareway reported an intoxicated driver leaving the business. The officer located the vehicle and followed it south on Elm St. After the vehicle left its lane numerous times, the officer performed a traffic stop in the 1100 block of S. Elm. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Marlene Eleanor Anderson, 50, of Ralston for operating while intoxicated- first offense (serious misdemeanor)*. She was also cited for fail to prove security against liability, driving while license suspended and improper use of lane. At 9:56 pm officers arrested William Dean Richardson, 63, of Jefferson on outstanding Greene County arrest warrants for possession of marijuana- third or subsequent offense, two counts (aggravated misdemeanor) and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*.

Friday, Oct. 25: At 7:34 am a caller advised of a stray dog near Grimmell Rd and Westwood Dr. The animal was captured and taken to the animal holding facility. At 8:31 am the owner of the laundromat on W. Reed St requested an officer to advise a male subject he is not welcome there. The male had apparently been staying overnights at the business. The officers have been unable to locate the reported male as of yet. At 9:34 am after a court hearing an officer arrested Beth Anne Laurent, 49, of Ames on an outstanding Greene County arrest warrant for theft- second degree*. At 12:40 pm a complainant reported the theft of $189 case from an apartment at The Gardens. The officer is investigating. At 8:18 pm a complainant reported two stray dogs in the 1000 block of W. Lincoln Way. The officer caught the animals and placed them in the animal holding facility.

Thursday, Oct. 24: Routine activity reported.

Wednesday, Oct. 23: At 3:45 pm a complainant reported a  laptop computer, coins, and three cell phones had been stolen from a residence in the 300 block of N. Chestnut St. The complainant provided officers with a male suspect in the matter. The officer is investigating. During the event, the officer learned there were outstanding Greene County warrants for the complainant, Brittany Smith. Brittany Kay Smith, 32, of Jefferson was arrested for possession of methamphetamine- first offense (serious misdemeanor), possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor), and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*. At 4:17 pm a complainant reported the theft of a radio from a vehicle parked in the 1100 block of N. Elm St. The theft had occurred after 10/16. The cost of replacing the radio is estimated at $200. The officer is investigating. At 7:21 pm a complainant reported located damage to his 2016 Ford Focus after it was parked for a few minutes in the HyVee parking lot. The officer estimated damage to the rear bumper at $1,000. The officer is working to view video surveillance from the business to identify the other vehicle involved. At 9:26 pm an officer began a criminal investigation at apartments in the 1200 block of Westwood Dr. Words and symbols were spray painted on two apartments at the complex. The investigation continues.

Tuesday, Oct. 22: At 12:41 pm an officer investigated a property damage accident in the high school parking lot. Zara Emmick was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado owned by Raye Emmick and backed into a parked 1999 Acura TL owned by Heather Pollock. vehicle in the lot. Damage to the Acura was estimated at $150. Damage to the pickup truck was estimated at $50.. No citation was issued as the accident occurred outside the roadway on private property.

Monday, Oct. 21: At 10:35 am a complainant reported a stray dog inn the 600 block of Rushview Drive. He had caught the animal in a fenced garden area. The animal was placed in the animal holding facility.

Sunday, Oct 20: At 9:53 am an officer assisted a female with the execution of a court order to retrieve baby items from a residence in the 400 block of N. Chestnut St. During the execution of the court order, a bag of drug paraphernalia and a small amount of suspected marijuana were located in the residence. As the officers were starting to type a search warrant for the residence, the occupant signed a consent to search order. The officer removed the items for testing.

Saturday, Oct. 19: At 2:47 am a caller advised of a careless driver on Highway 30 heading west towards Jefferson. The officer located the vehicle and performed a traffic stop near N. Mulberry St after locking the vehicle at 60 in a 55-mph zone. The officer learned the driver, Dale Lee Spaulding, 51, of Breda, had an outstanding domestic abuse assault arrest warrant out of Hamilton County*. The officer placed Spaulding in custody and transported him to the LEC. While at the LEC, a Greene County jailer witnessed Spaulding attempt to flush a smoking device down a toilet. The item was retrieved by the jailer for testing. A deputy charged Spaulding with two counts of bring contraband into correctional facility*. At 5:32 pm a complainant reported the theft of a motorcycle from a residence in the 1000 block of N. Walnut St. The reported theft had occurred sometime in the previous two weeks. The officer is investigating the report.

Friday, Oct. 18: At 11 pm a complainant reported a group of juveniles, dressed in all black, carrying a bag of eggs near N. High and W. Washington Sts. The officer located the three juveniles and spoke with them. They advised they were going to a residence to make hard boiled eggs. The officer advised them he would be looking for them if any reports of criminal mischief come in.

Thursday, Oct. 17: At 7:15 am the Jefferson PD, Greene County Ambulance, Greene County sheriff’s office, and Iowa State Patrol responded to a three-vehicle accident on Highway 30 just east of Grimmell Rd. The sheriff’s office is handling the investigation and release of information for the accident. At 12:20 pm an officer assisted the Jefferson fire department with an electrical fire contained to a furnace at 612 S. Vine Street. No damage to the residence was reported. At 10:25 pm two officers responded to assist the Guthrie County sheriff’s office with a stand-off in Stuart.

Wednesday, Oct. 16: At 9:09 am a complainant reported damage to the residence at 705 W. State St. The complainant believed a neighbor had struck the house with a camper. The officer learned a 1980 Honey Motor home, registered to Darrell Pratt of Harcourt and operated by Faye Mason of Jefferson, struck the residence while backing into the driveway. The residence had $500 in reported damages, while the motor home had a reported $200 in damage. At 10 am staff at Casey’s General Store requested an officer for a found purse. Staff checked the purse for possible identification and located possible narcotics inside. The officer took possession of the purse and the business is reviewing video to try and determine who left the purse at the business.

Tuesday, Oct. 15: At 8:23 am a resident brought a stray dog to the LEC she had found near Elm and Greenewood. The officer placed the animal in the animal holding facility. At 10:51 a complainant reported receiving a scam letter advising him he had won $4 million dollars. The letter will be sent to the US Postal Inspectors. At 7:03 pm the parents of two male juveniles reported to an officer that another male juvenile had threatened them with a pocketknife at the Skateboard Park in the 600 Block of East Lincoln Way. The officer spoke to parents and all children involved in the matter. It was decided to allow parents to take care of the knife issue, instead of a criminal charge. The knife was not brandished in a threatening matter.

Monday, Oct. 14:  At 11:39 am an officer responded to the intersection of N. Vine and W. Reed Sts for a two-vehicle accident. David Holley was operating a 2001 Chevy Silverado in the 200 block of W. Reed. He was backing up in the roadway and struck a 2007 Buick Terraza behind him being driven by Debbie Dennhardt. The Silverado sustained $300 in damages and the Terraza sustained $1,000 in damages. As a result, Holley was cited for unsafe backing upon highway and driving while license suspended. His vehicle was also towed to the city impound lot where an inventory of the vehicle was completed. Suspected drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle. The item will be sent to be tested at the Carroll police department.

Sunday, Oct. 13:  At 3:10 pm staff at  Greene County  Medical Center emergency room requested an officer for a female patient who advised she had been assaulted in Jefferson. The officer is investigating the reported event.

Saturday, Oct. 12: Routine activity reported.

Friday, Oct. 11: At 8:13 am a complainant reported she thought she had fallen for a scam phone call. A caller asked if she could hear them. She said, “Yes” and the call ended. The officer advised her to monitor her credit and banking records in the near future for unauthorized transactions. At 9:05 am an officer located two dogs running loose near Chestnut and Madison Sts. The officer learned who the owner was and returned the animals to him. At 9:26 am officers assisted the GC Ambulance and medical examiner with an unattended death in the 700 block of N. Cedar St. A 3:04 pm an officer was requested to assist a deputy with a vehicle in the ditch near 280h St and Highway 4 south of Jefferson. The driver was arrested by the deputy for operating while intoxicated- first offense (serious misdemeanor)*.

Thursday, Oct. 10: At 8:01 am a caller advised that a group of middle school-aged boys dropped to the ground in front of her vehicle and rolled around in the street at Vine and Madison St the prior day after school dismissed early. Officers are working to identify the students responsible and speak to them and parents about the dangers of this behavior. At 2:24 pm a complainant reported the theft of money from a wallet in the 300 block of E. Lincoln Way. At 4:39 pm an officer recovered a missing/stolen bicycle in the 300 block of N. Olive St. The bicycle was reported missing 9/30. At 7:20 pm staff at HyVee reported catching two male juveniles stealing alcohol. Store employees had stopped the boys from leaving the store until they retrieved the stolen alcohol from them. Officers have identified the two male juveniles from video footage and charges are pending at this time.

Wednesday, Oct. 9: At 1:07 pm an officer spoke to the owner of a dog in the 500 block of W. South St. The animal had left its yard and aggressively approached a female and her small children. The owner of the dog advised she is working to make repairs to her fence to stop the animal from escaping under the fence. The officer explained numerous city animal ordinances violations that can be placed against the animal if the problem continues. At 1 pm a complainant reported fraudulent activity on her bank account. The officer is working with the bank on the issue. At 3:26 pm employees at Ace Hardware reported two juveniles on the outside ledge of the overpass on N. Elm St. The youngsters were gone from the area when the officer arrived.

Tuesday, Oct. 8: At 4:35 pm a complainant reported the unauthorized use of her motor vehicle by a family member. The officer is investigating.

Monday, Oct. 7: At 6:45 pm subjects brought a dog to the LEC they had captured running freely near Russell Park. The officer placed the animal in the animal holding facility. At 9:52 pm a officer locked his radar on a speeding motorcycle in the 900 block of N. Cedar St. The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop on the driver but the driver fled. The officer temporarily lost sight of the motorcycle, but later found it parked in a vacant lot in the 700 block of N. Chestnut St. The officer had the motorcycle towed to the impound lot.

Sunday, Oct. 6: At 6:32 am a complainant reported a trespass at the Milwaukee Road depot. An officer is investigating.

Saturday, Oct. 5: At 2:02 am As a result of a traffic stop in the 300 block of W. Monroe St, Clint Dennhardt, 18, of Jefferson was issued citations for use of electronic communication device while driving and failure to provide proof of financial liability. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed signs of intoxication. The officer administered field sobriety tests. As a result of the tests, Dennhardt was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated- first offense (serious misdemeanor)*.

Friday, Oct. 4: At 9:05 pm a resident reported several parking violations on E. Wilcox Way. As a result, two citations were written for parking violations. At 11:02 pm as a result of a traffic stop in the 800 block of W. Washington St, Jacob Hubbs, 20, of Jefferson was arrested for possession of alcohol under age.

Thursday, Oct. 3: At 3:24 pm a complainant reported unauthorized purchases totaling $294.12 had been made online with his SSI debit card. The Social Security Administration has refunded the money to the complainant and is handling the investigation. At 3 pm an officer went with a city public works employee to enter a residence in the 700 block of W. Mahlon St to inspect the water meter. The worker located the meter, which had been removed and replaced with a pipe. The items were seized and charges are pending against the occupants of the residence for theft of services.  ***** Officers issued two street sweeping parking violations during this reporting period. ***** An officer has requested an arrest warrant for Ryan James Brown, 47, of Jefferson for theft- fourth degree- serious misdemeanor*. The request stems from a report on 9/19 in which Brown was accused of turning the water services back on, after disconnected by the city, at two properties owned by Brown. Water had been used at both residences.

Wednesday, Oct. 2: At 6:13 am staff at Sparky’s One Stop requested an officer at the business. Staff had located a baggie containing possible narcotics. The officer disposed of the item. At 7:16 am staff at Sparky’s One Stop reported a possible fraudulent check. The officer is investigating. At 7:44 am a resident reported she had caught a stray dog in the 700 block of S. Oak St. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility. At 9:05 am officers were called to a residence in the 500 block of N. Grimmell Rd for a violation of a protective order. The officer has requested an arrest warrant for Ryan Douglas Patterson, 38, of Jefferson for violation of a protective order- simple misdemeanor*. At 9:20 am Jefferson park and recreation staff reported criminal mischief had occurred at the shelter house at Russell Park. Several initials had been carved into the newly painted building. The officer is investigating. At 11:15 am two subjects went to the LEC to report to an officer they had been involved in a minor accident earlier in the day at the intersection of S. Olive and E. Madison St. Marcy Ubben of Perry was southbound on Olive St driving her 2019 Toyota Highlander. Dan Meythaler of Jefferson was eastbound on Madison St driving his 2003 Ford F150 pickup truck. The vehicles collided in the intersection, causing damage estimated at less than $200 to Ubben’s vehicle. At 12:13 pm an officer investigated a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of W. Washington and N. Oak Sts. Bailey Cunningham of Jefferson was southbound on Oak St driving a 2012 Chevrolet Impala owned by Jacqueline Cunningham. She did not yield to Alexa Loew of Boxholm, who was eastbound on Washington St driving a 2013 Nissan Sentra. Cunningham was cited for failure to yield to the vehicle on the right. Damage to the Impala was estimated at $3,500. Damage to Loew’s vehicle was estimated at $5,000. At 5:07 pm a resident caught a stray dog at the Greene County Schools administrative building. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility.

Tuesday, Oct. 1: At 1:12 pm an officer investigated an accident in the parking lot at Wild Rose Casino. Nicholas Mallas of Boone was driving his 2016 Chevrolet pickup truck when he struck the rear of a 2018 Kia Sportage owned and driven by Nancy Squire of Urbandale. Damage to Mallas’ vehicle was estimated at $4,000. Damage to Squire’s vehicle was estimated at $1,500.

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

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