Police blotter – March 2020

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

Tuesday, March 31: At 1:02 am while on routine patrol, an officer located several juveniles at Kelso Park. The officer removed the juveniles from the property. At 8:07 am a complainant reported finding a counterfeit $100 on his property in the 500 block of N. Wilson Ave. At 11:55 am an officer responded to the Junkyard Café for an attempted burglary. It appeared someone tried to gain entry into the back door of the business, causing damage to the door in the process. The door sustained $200 in damages. An officer is investigating the incident. At 5:27 pm an officer responded to Russell Park for a gathering of 13 people. The officer dispersed the group per the governor’s proclamation.

Monday, March 30: Routine activity reported.

Sunday, March 29: At 11:03 am a caller advised of a dog tangled in its cable at a residence in the 300 block of W. Reed St. The officer attempted to contact the animal’s owner. The animal was taken inside a short time later. At 1:53 pm a caller advised of a four-wheeler being driven on the streets in the 300 block of S. Elm St. The officer located the parked ATV and spoke to the owner about the issue. At 6:04 pm an officer located a dog running freely in the 1600 block of N. Elm St. The officer contacted the animal’s owner, who advised it had escaped from his building. At 7:35 pm a caller advised of a neighbor’s dog in her yard, but it had gone back home. The officer made contact with the animal’s owner and issued a verbal warning for the animal at large.

Saturday, March 28: At 11:30 am a resident advised he received a letter from Des Moines PD about two checks attempted to be cashed in Des Moines. He believed it to be a scam. The officer contacted DSM PD and learned it is a valid investigation there. The information was given to the resident. At 12:40 pm a caller advised of a stray dog in her yard in the 600 block of W. Reed St. She advised the officer the dog belongs to a neighbor. The officer returned the puppy with a verbal warning. At 5:06 pm a complainant advised she had caught a stray dog in the 400 block of W. Russell St. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility.

Friday, March 27: At 9:12 am an officer received a report of criminal mischief at Dollar General. It the past few weeks, several outdoor lights had been damaged. The cost of replacement was $1000. At 1:06 pm a traffic stop on Highway 30 at Orchard Ave resulted in the vehicle being towed. The officer arranged a ride for the driver and in lieu of an arrest, the officer requested an arrest warrant be executed at a later time. The officer requested the warrant for Christopher Hollis Christian, 39, of Fort Dodge for driving while license barred (aggravated misdemeanor)*.

Thursday, March 26: At 9:13 am officers arrested Joshua Jeffery Michael Geigle, 28, of Jefferson on an outstanding Jefferson PD arrest warrant for possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor)*. At 10:19 am staff from Union Pacific railroad reported a deceased dog between the tracks east of Jefferson. The officer contacted a local family that was missing a dog that fit the description given. The family advised it was their missing pet.

Wednesday, March 25: At 10:45 am an officer began an investigation of criminal mischief in a yard at a residence in the 400 block of N. Oak St. Neighbors had entered the yard and caused damage to the sod estimated at $250. At 2:14 pm a resident reported his neighbor’s dog keeps defecating in his yard in the 100 block of S. Walnut St. The officer spoke to the neighbor about the issues and gave him/her a time period to become compliant with animal ordinances.

Tuesday, March 24: At 1:31 am an officer performed a traffic stop at N. Elm St and Highway 30 after witnessing the driver fail to stop at the posted stop sign. During the stop, the officer smelled the pungent odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. During a probable cause search, the officer located two clear bags of a green leafy substance, scales, and baggies in the vehicle. The items were seized for testing.  At 9:13 am a complainant reported a small stray dog near the bike trail in the 500 block of W. Monroe St. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility. At 4:34 pm a complainant reported a possible violation of a no contact order. The officer is investigating. *****An officer has requested arrest warrants for Michelle Ann Cook, 20, of Jefferson on charges of possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor) and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor) after receiving test results on items seized during a consent search of a residence in the 600 block of W. Washington St on 3/13. *****An officer has requested arrest warrants for Emily Ann Chiafos, 32, of Jefferson on charges of criminal mischief- fifth degree and theft- fifth degree (simple misdemeanors)*. The charges follow an investigation of city water service being turned back on after it was disconnected for non-payment.

Monday, March 23: At 12:45 pm city staff reported the theft of services at a residence in the 100 block of E. Clark St. Water service had been turned off at the residence due to non-payment. Public works employees noticed the water had been turned back on at the residence and the water meter had been damaged. The officer is investigating. At 6:22 pm a caller advised of a very ill male at Dollar General coughing and advising he was trying to get people sick. The officer identified the male and spoke to him at his residence. The male advised he was “joking around.”

Sunday, March 22: At 1:45 am an officer was flagged down in the 600 block of N. Cedar St and advised of a female lying in a nearby yard. The officer made contact with the intoxicated female and had her go back inside the residence. *****An officer completed a burglary investigation that began on 01/01 at a residence in the 700 block of W. State St. Fingerprints gathered at the residence after the reported burglary have been identified by the DCI Crime Lab in Ankeny. Arrest warrants have been requested for Yasday Sorter, 29, of Des Moines for burglary- second degree (class C felony) and theft- second degree (class D felony)*. Sorter was an early suspect in the case and the fingerprint match confirmed other evidence in the matter. ***** Since the return of test results on items seized during a traffic stop on 3/04 an arrest warrant has been requested for Julie Ann Bentz, 20, of Jefferson for possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor)*.

Saturday, March 21: At 3:39 pm staff at Hy Vee provided an officer with video of theft of alcohol from the store. The theft had occurred on 3/18. The officer is investigating. At 7:02 pm officers were requested at a residence in the 1300 block of Southfield Drive for a domestic argument. The officers worked to diffuse the situation and determined nothing of a physical nature had occurred.

Friday, March 20: At 2:41 pm an officer was requested at a residence in the 800 block of W. Washington St for a family argument. The officer was able to mediate the group through the issue.

Thursday, March 19: At 3:46 pm an officer smelled the strong odor of marijuana in the 100 block of N Grimmell Rd. The investigation continues into the source of the smell.

Wednesday, March 18: *****An officer requested an arrest warrant for Joshua Jeffery Michael Geigle, 28, of Jefferson for possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor)*. The request comes after receiving lab results on items seized from Geigle’s person during an arrest on 2/28. *****An officer has requested an arrest warrant for Elizabeth Celine Fischels, 31, of Webster City for possession of methamphetamine (serious misdemeanor)*. The request comes after receiving lab results on items seized from Fischels’ person during an arrest 11/13/2019.

Tuesday, March 17: At 7:26 am a complainant reported two suspicious males in yards in the 200 block of N. Olive St. As the officer approached the pair, one male fled on foot. The officer gave pursuit and caught the subject in the 400 block of N. Olive St. Jackson Lee Norton, 28, of Carroll was arrested and charged with trespass and interference with official acts (simple misdemeanors)*. At 8:14 pm a traffic stop near S. Elm St and Greenewood Rd resulted in the arrest of Joshua Troy Smithson, 42, of Ladora for driving while barred (aggravated misdemeanor)*. He was also cited for improper registration plate lamp and fail to provide proof of financial liability.

Monday, March 16: At 9:50 am school staff requested assistance in returning prescription drugs back to students, since the closing of the school. Officers delivered three students’ prescriptions back to parents of the students. At 11:01 am an officer checked a residence in the 600 block of W. Washington St for a wanted subject. No one came to the door at the residence. During the event, the officer smelled the pungent odor of marijuana while knocking on the door of the residence. The officer requested a search warrant based on the smell and it was signed by the magistrate. The officers and deputies executed the search warrant. Nothing was seized during the execution. Officers spotted the wanted male in the area and arrested Dalton Lee Weber, 31, of Jefferson on an outstanding Greene County arrest warrant for violation of a protective order*. At 11:19 am staff at Greene Bean Coffee reported receiving a counterfeit $5 bill at the business. The bank caught the fake in a deposit. At 10:51 pm at officer was assisted by a deputy at a residence in the 600 block of W. Washington St for a reported disturbance. The officer learned a couple had been at the residence attempting to collect a debt and railing and mailbox had been damaged during the exchange. The officer is investigating.

Sunday, March 15: Routine activity reported.

Saturday, March 14: Routine activity reported.

Friday, March 13: At 1:18 pm an officer responded to a two-vehicle accident in the 200 block of W. Head St. William Richardson was backing up in a white 2013 Ford Escape and struck the rear passenger side of a Chevy Venture van driven by by Ruth Consier. The van sustained $1,000 in damages and the Escape sustained $100 in damages. At 4:33 pm Jefferson officers assisted the Johnston police department with executing a search warrant at a residence in the 700 block of S. Elm St in connection with a burglary that occurred in Johnston. At 10:05 pm during a consent search at a residence in the 600 block of W. Washington St officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Charges are pending laboratory results.

Thursday, March 12: At 2:22 am an officer assisted a Greene County deputy with investigating a stolen vehicle that was found at Sparky’s One-Stop. At 4:35 am a complainant reported a possible fire in a basement in the 800 block of S. Elm St. An officer investigated and determined is was a lightbulb that was intended to replicate an open flame. At 2:47 pm a complainant located a loose dog near the intersection of Highway 4 and 30. An officer placed the dog at the animal holding facility. At 4:41 pm an officer arrested Juan Guzman, 32, of Jefferson for an outstanding Greene County arrest warrant for harassment- third degree*. At 4:41 pm as a result of a traffic stop an officer arrested Kaleb Lentz, 25, of Scranton for driving while license revoked*.

Wednesday, March 11: Routine activity reported.

Tuesday, March 10: Routine activity reported.

Monday, March 9: Routine activity reported.

Sunday, March 8: At 8:51 am a complainant reported several violations of a no contact order occurring overnight. The officer spoke to the person listed in the no contact order; he admitted to the violations. The officer arrested Ryan Douglas Patterson, 39, of Jefferson on charges of violation of a no contact order (seven counts) and trespass (simple misdemeanors)*. At 10:20 am a complainant reported he had lost his wallet at Wild Rose Casino earlier in the day. The wallet contained his debit card. His card had since been used twice in Lake City. The officer is investigating. At 8:19 pm staff at Hy-Vee reported an unknown subject has been leaving fake money at the store. Several bills have been found on the floor and shelves. The officer is investigating.

Saturday, March 7: At 10:50 am a caller advised subjects were removing items from the Jefferson swimming pool. The officer learned workers were removing equipment and installing new equipment.

Friday, March 6: At 3:50 pm an officer responded to a two-vehicle property damage acceding in the student parking lot at Greene County High School. Madison Moore of Ralston, who was driving a 2011 Ford 350 pickup truck owned by Mark Moore, turned too tightly while pulling from a parking space. The rear tire of Moore’s vehicle struck the front corner of a parked 2006 Chevrolet HHR owned by Rebecca Killion of Jefferson. Damage to the HHR was estimated at $2,500. The pickup truck was not damaged. At 11:48 pm an officer witnessed a driver having problems maintaining his lane in the 1400  block of N. Elm St. The officer turned around and began to follow the driver southbound on Elm St until the driver pulled into the alley of the 300 block of E. Washington St. The officer stopped and spoke with the driver. The officer’s investigation resulted in the arrest of Kenneth Lee Molle, 81, of Jefferson for operating while intoxicated (serious misdemeanor)*.

Thursday, March 5: At 5:29 pm a mother reported her juvenile son had been assaulted by two other students at Greene County High School The officer is investigating.

Wednesday, March 4: At 12:25 am during a traffic stop in the 100 block of N. Elm St, the officer smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, suspected marijuana was seized for testing. Charges are pending lab results. At 1 pm an officer investigated a reported vehicle accident near W. Wall and N. Grimmell Rd. Lathen Davis reported he turned from Grimmell Rd and was westbound on Wall St in his 1995 Chevrolet K1500. Davis advised a dark SUV turned behind him and struck the rear of his vehicle. He advised the SUV continued around his vehicle and struck a mailbox pole with two mailboxes. The Davis vehicle suffered a reported $200 in damages. The mailboxes were also damaged, estimated at $100. The other vehicle left the scene. The officer is investigating. At 7:52 pm an officer arrested Christopher Brian Long, 27, of Jefferson on outstanding JPD arrest warrants for possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor) and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*. The charges stem from test results on items seized during a traffic stop on 2/14.

Tuesday, March 3: At 4:51 am an officer noted that a semi-tractor trailer had been parked in the 100 block of N. Locust St longer than the 2-hour limit allowed by city ordinance.. As the officer was writing a parking violation notice, the driver drove away in the rig. The officer performed a traffic stop with the vehicle in the 500 block of N. Cedar St. The officer made contact with the driver and believed he was impaired by narcotics. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Kurt A. Schoon, 64, of Scranton for operating while intoxicated, possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana, all serious misdemeanors, and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*. Schoon was also issued a parking violation notice for truck/RV/trailer parking. ***** An officer has requested arrest warrants in connection with a burglary at County Wide Electric on 2/27. The suspect had also committed burglaries in Guthrie Center on the same evening and a Guthrie County deputy had contact with him on a traffic stop. The clothing and physical appearance in the video from the Guthrie stop matched the suspect in video surveillance video from County Wide Electric. The requested warrants are for Dustin William Winchester, 36, of Iowa City for burglary- third degree/motor vehicle- second offense, burglary- third degree, and theft- second degree, all Class D felonies*.

Monday, March 2: At 2:16 pm a complainant brought her juvenile daughter to the LEC to report the youngster had been assaulted by two male juveniles the previous day in the 500 block of N. Locust St. The officer is investigating the reported event. At 7:08 pm an officer investigated a backing accident in the 200 block of S. Maple St. Brandon Shirmbeck of Jefferson was backing his 1993 GMC Sierra from a private drive and struck a parked 2010 Toyota Corolla owned by Matthew Carlson of Jefferson. Shirmbeck was cited for unsafe backing upon a highway. Damage to his vehicle was minimal. Damage to Carlson’s vehicle was estimated at $2,000. At 9:05 pm staff at Casey’s General Store reported a male had parked his vehicle at a fuel pump over an hour ago but had not gotten fuel. The asked an officer to check on the male. The officer spoke to the male, who advised he was texting on his cell phone. The officer advised him to move away from the fuel pumps and park in a parking spot so others can fuel their vehicles.

Sunday, March 1: Routine activity reported. ***** An officer has requested arrest warrants for Christopher Brian Long, 27, of Jefferson for possession of marijuana (serious misdemeanor) and possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*. The charges stem from a traffic stop on 2/24 during which items were seized for testing.

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

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