Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Greene County sheriff’s office:
Wednesday, Dec. 31: At 6:59 pm, a deputy and the Jefferson fire department were dispatched to the Union Pacific railroad crossing on Parkland Ave east of Jefferson for a reported fire on the third engine of the freight train. The train engineer advised the deputy that the crew noticed the fire and powered that engine down and the flames began to subside. The train crew determined that a diesel fuel leak created the fire. The train soon continued on to its destination.
Tuesday, Dec. 30: At 1:42 am four members of the Greene County sheriff’s office, assisted by a Carroll County deputy sheriff, executed a search warrant in the 1600 block of S. Kendrick St in Scranton and subsequently arrested Cody Lee Sellman, 25, of Carroll for being a felon in possession of a firearm (Class D felony), manufacturing marijuana (D felony) and assault (aggravated misdemeanor)*. At 8:22 am, a deputy while on routine patrol executed a traffic stop near Paton and subsequently arrested Larry Lee Warren Varnell, 21, of rural Churdan for driving while license barred (aggravated misdemeanor), two counts*. At 5:56 pm a deputy issued a DNR deer salvage tag for a deer that had been struck on Highway 30 near J Ave west of Jefferson.
Monday, Dec. 29: At 3:11 pm a deputy was dispatched to the intersection of Brentwood Ave and 165th St in Cedar Township for a reported single vehicle accident. Kent Allen Wilson, 62, of rural Lohrville was southbound on Brentwood Ave when he lost control of his 2003 Subaru. The car went into the ditch and rolled onto its side. Wilson was not injured but his Subaru was determined to be a total loss. Wilson was cited for failure to reduce speed to a reasonable and proper rate. At 4:50 pm a deputy was advised of cattle along the roadway at 255th St and Quaker Ave in Grant Township. The cattle owner was advised of the situation.
Sunday, Dec. 28: At 2:04 pm a deputy and the Grand Junction fire and rescue squad were dispatched to a reported two vehicle accident at the intersection of North 16th St and Railroad St in Grand Junction. Carmen Andrea Andrews, 50, of Grand Junction was northbound on 16th St when Erik Scott Whiton, 33, of Perry stopped as posted at Railroad St and then drove into the path of Andrews’ vehicle. Andrews was transported the Greene County Medical Center for further evaluation. Whiton was cited for failure to obey a stop sign. Damage to his 2006 Dodge Charger was estimated $8,000 in damages. Andrews was issued a citation for no insurance. Damage to her 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier was estimated to be $3,000. At 2:27 pm a deputy while investigating a two vehicle accident in Grand Junction was advised of another two vehicle accident on 12th St and Main Street East in Grand Junction. Mary Geralyn Tonsfeldt, 50, of Grand Junction was stopped at the stop sign on 12th St and Main Street East and preceded into the intersection. Hayden Matthew Hoffman, 16, also of Grand Junction was westbound on Main St driving a pickup truck and collided with Tonsfeldt’s Ford Taurus. There were no injuries reported but both vehicles sustained several thousand dollars in damage. Tonsfeldt was issued a citation for failure to obey a stop sign.
Saturday, Dec. 27: At 2:55 am a deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 4 at the “S” curves south of Jefferson. Randy Rae Augustus, 28, of Bagley was southbound when he lost control of his vehicle and it rolled into the south ditch. Augustus left the scene of the accident and returned home. He reported that he was not injured but his 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer was a total loss. The accident is still under investigation by the sheriff’s office at this time. At 6:46 pm a deputy assisted a JPD officer with trying to locate items that were reported to have been stolen from a residence in Jefferson that may be at a house in Scranton.
Friday, Dec. 26: Routine activity reported.
Thursday, Dec. 25: Routine activity reported.
Wednesday, Dec. 24: At 7:51 am a deputy while on routine patrol checked a vehicle in the ditch on 130th St just east of Highway 144 east of Paton. The vehicle was running with its lights on and a male subject sleeping in the vehicle. After a verbal interview and conducting field sobriety the deputy subsequently arrested Douglas Duane Owen, 32,of Harcourt for operating while intoxicated (OWI)-first offense, failure to maintain control and failure to provide security against liability*. At 8:31 am a deputy was dispatched to the 1000 block of W Ave in Junction Township to investigate unknown 4-wheel ATVs causing criminal damage to private property. At 4:48 pm a deputy was advised of a cow grazing along the roadway on County Road E-53 near I Ave east of Scranton. The owner of the cow was determined and notified of the situation.
Tuesday, Dec. 23: At 8:29 am the sheriff’s office was advised by an out of state resident of a possible forgery that was alleged to have occurred in Greene County. At 9:10 am a deputy investigated a minor backing accident in the 900 block of Maple Street in Scranton.
Monday, Dec. 22: Routine activity reported.
Sunday Dec. 21: Routine activity reported.
Saturday, Dec. 20: At 11:49 am, a deputy investigated the report of trespassing on private property in the 1100 block of Lincoln Street in Scranton. At 10:38 pm a deputy issued a Department of Natural Resources salvage tag for a deer that had been struck and killed on County Road E-53 near the Raccoon River bridge west of Jefferson. The deer was taken for human consumption.
Friday, Dec. 19: At 1:30 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 200 block of E. Hager Street in Grand Junction to investigate criminal mischief to a picture window of the home. The deputy determined the window was shot with some type of BB or pellet gun. At 6:11 pm a deputy investigated criminal mischief to private property in the 1800 block of County Road E-53 east of Jefferson.
Thursday, Dec. 18: At 10:35 am, the chief deputy sheriff was dispatched to 1700 block of R Ave in Grant Township to collect some drug paraphernalia that was found in a ditch by Greene County secondary road personnel. At 2:32 pm several deputies responded to a reported single vehicle accident at the intersection of Quint Ave and 240th St in Grant Township. Karah Jane Brown, 17, of Jefferson, was westbound on 240th St and was unable to slow down for the approaching T intersection onto Quint Ave and drove into the west ditch. Brown was not injured but her 2004 Nissan Maxima was estimated to be a total loss. Brown was issued a citation for failure to maintain control of her vehicle. At 8 pm a deputy investigated a reported threat made by a male subject that involved a former spouse.
Wednesday, Dec. 17: At 8:35 pm a deputy investigated criminal mischief and the attempted burglary to a home in the 200 block of E. Hager St. in Grand Junction. Entry to the home was not gained but windows and a television were shot with some type of pellet or BB gun on the patio of the residence.
Tuesday, Dec. 16: At 5:19 am two deputies, the Jefferson fire department and the Greene County Emergency Medical Services all responded to a single vehicle accident at the intersection of County Road E-53 and I Ave in Jackson Township. Colton Patrick Bishop, 19, of Grand Junction was westbound on E-53 when he lost control of his 1998 Chevrolet Blazer and it entered the ditch at I Ave. Bishop and a passenger were not injured and left the scene to get to work. Deputies towed the vehicle and are still investigating the cause, pending a discussion with the driver as to the road conditions at that time. At 8:39 pm a deputy investigated the unauthorized withdrawal from the bank account of a rural resident in the 1300 block of 100th St in Dawson Township.
Monday, Dec. 15: At 8:29 am, a deputy investigated a single vehicle accident and provided traffic control on County Road E-53 for a pickup that was pulling a flatbed trailer hauling construction equipment. Robert William Thorp, 28, of Jefferson was pulling from a driveway onto E-53 at the “S” curve between Jefferson and Grand Junction and drove too close to the ditch, tipping the trailer onto its side. There was no damage to the trailer or machinery, but the 1999 Chevrolet pickup truck sustained an estimated $5000 in damages.
Sunday, Dec. 14: At 12:35 am the Churdan fire department was dispatched for a reported fire on County Road N-65 and D Ave in Cedar Township. It was later determined that the fire was intended to be a controlled burn but was not reported to dispatchers at the Law Enforcement Center.
Saturday, Dec. 13: At 5:33 pm, a deputy advised a DNR conservation officer of a deer that had been shot on private property in the 2300 block of County Road E-57 east of Rippey. The DNR officer will be investigating the illegal shooting of the deer. At 6:52 pm a deputy located the owner of several head of cattle that were on the roadway at 310th Street and Highway 4 in Franklin Township.
Friday, Dec. 12: At 7:56 am the chief deputy sheriff and K-9 Leo assisted the Boone County sheriff’s office K-9 unit with the drug search of a school in Boone County. At 8:04 am a deputy while on routine patrol found several head of cattle along the roadway on 190th St near County Road P-33 (S Ave) in Junction Township. The owner of the cattle was advised and put the cows back into the field. At 10:30 am a deputy was advised of the theft of a Macdon Draper bean head part that was removed from the bean table as it sat in a farm field on 180th Street and H Ave in Bristol Township.
Thursday, Dec. 11: At 11:34 am a deputy was advised by a Scranton resident of a check fraud case involving the forgery of a signature. At 5:34 pm, a deputy was dispatched to a car-deer accident on County Road E-53 near Kirkwood Ave west of Jefferson. Isaac Joseph Perez, 18, of Scranton was westbound when a deer ran onto the road and was struck by the Perez vehicle. Isaac Perez was not injured but his 1998 GMC Sierra pickup truck sustained an estimated $6000 in damages.
Wednesday, Dec. 10: At 8 am a deputy assisted several outside agencies with an investigation in Grand Junction. At 11:48 am, the animal control officer, while working in Churdan, was advised by a passerby of the strong odor of propane gas in or around a residence in the 200 block of Hills Street. The officer advised Greene County sispatchers that he was going to close the valve on the propane tank in the back yard of the residence. The Greene County sheriff’s office, Churdan fire and rescue, Greene County EMS, Jefferson fire department, Alliant Energy and the Webster/Calhoun Telephone Company also responded to disconnect any possible electrical ignition point within the home and to determine if there was any build-up of harmful gases within the residence. After the electrical power was disconnected to the home, it was determined that the regulator valve on the outside tank had malfunctioned and was emitting propane and the interior of the residence was safe. At 2:19 pm the animal control officer issued several citations to dog owners in Churdan that did not have their dogs registered and licensed with the city. At 2:50 pm the animal control officer was advised of cattle out along the roadway in the 800 block of County Road P-14 south of Churdan. At 3:56 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 1000 block of County Road E-33 in Bristol Township to assist with cattle on the roadway. The owner of the cows and the deputy were able to put the cattle back into the field. At 5:57 pm a deputy was dispatched to a car-deer accident that occurred on County Road E-53 just west of Kirkwood Ave west of Jefferson. Charles Franklin Heimer, 48, of Jefferson was westbound driving a 2003 Chevrolet Malibu LS when a deer ran onto the roadway and was struck. Heimer was not injured but damage to his car was estimated to be $3500. A DNR salvage tag was issued to Heimer to possess the deer for consumption. At 7:49 pm a deputy initiated a traffic stop on Highway 30 for speeding and subsequently arrested Lisa Nicole Pierce, 39, of Carroll for driving while license revoked, speeding, failure to secure a child, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to prove security against liability*. The chief deputy sheriff and K-9 Leo assisted with the search of the vehicle. At 8:48 pm the chief deputy sheriff, K-9 Leo and a second Greene County deputy assisted the Carroll County sheriff’s office with a search of a home in Lanesboro.
Tuesday, Dec. 9: At 10 am a deputy was advised by a resident in the 300 block of Howard Street in Rippey of trespassing by unknown persons. At 3:29 pm a deputy was dispatched to County Road E-33 and Highway 4 north of Jefferson for a single vehicle rollover accident. Nolan Rocky Ford, 15, of rural Churdan, was northbound on Highway 4 and attempted to turn left onto E-33 when he lost control and his 2004 Pontiac Grand Am GT rolled into the north ditch. Ford and a passenger were not injured. The vehicle was determined to be a total loss and a citation for failure to maintain control was issued to Ford.
Monday, Dec. 8: At 10:31 am a deputy was advised of a theft of scrap iron from a rural building site in the 1600 block of T Ave in Hardin Township.
Sunday, Dec. 7: At 4:37 pm a deputy assisted several DNR officers with the search of a vehicle near the old Raccoon River Bridge west of Jefferson. At 9:31 pm a deputy assisted a Carroll County Deputy with a vehicle search on Highway 30 near C Ave west of Scranton.
Saturday, Dec. 6: At 7:03 am the Grand Junction fire department, with assistance from the Jefferson fire department, returned to the house fire at 506 W Hager Street to extinguish flames that had rekindled after the original fire.
Friday, Dec. 5: At 10:14 am a deputy responded to a two vehicle accident on the overpass bridge about two miles east of Grand Junction. John Kay, 44, of Atlantic was eastbound on Highway 30 driving a 2012 GMC pickup truck pulling farm equipment. He hit the bridge, causing him to over-correct and cross the centerline. He then struck a semi-tractor trailer that was driven by Claire Ellern, 43, of Hubbard. No one was injured in the accident. There was $10,000 in damages to the semi-truck and to the gluten extract material that it was carrying and about $200 in damages to the farm tillage equipment Kay was pulling. The pickup truck is owned by K-Ranch Incorporated from Atlantic and the semi-truck is owned by Eller Trucking LLC in Hubbard. Kay will be charged with traveling on the wrong side of a two-lane highway. Grand Junction fire and rescue and the Iowa Department of Transportation Vehicle Enforcement assisted with the accident. At 4:12 pm a deputy investigated criminal mischief to a window in the 100 block of North 16th Street in Grand Junction. It was determined that a rock was thrown through the window. At 11:43 pm, the Greene County sheriff’s office, Grand Junction fire and rescue and the Jefferson fire department all responded to a structure fire at 506 West Hager St in Grand Junction. The home was fully engulfed upon the fire departments’ arrival. The homeowners were home at the time but were not injured. No origin was determined at that time and the house is expected to be a total loss.
Thursday, Dec. 4: At 1:29 pm a deputy assisted the JPD with a theft investigation. At 5:03 pm a deputy was dispatched to a car-deer accident on 245th St at L Ave in Jackson Township. Marcy Marie Gierstorf, 36, of rural Jefferson was westbound when a deer ran into the side of her vehicle. Gierstorf was not injured. Her 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe sustained an estimated $2000 in damages.
Wednesday, Dec. 3: Routine activity reported.
Tuesday, Dec. 2: At 1:46 am a Jefferson police officer assisted with a county call for a car-deer accident that occurred on Highway 30 at County Road P-14 (J Ave) west of Jefferson. The driver had left the scene and the JPD officer advised that the deer was killed after being struck by the car. At 3:07 pm the chief deputy sheriff assisted the JPD with a search warrant and subsequent arrest of a female in Jefferson. A deputy then transported the female to the Carroll-Greene County line where a Carroll County deputy took custody of the female on a Carroll County warrant. At 7:36 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 1600 block of Highway 144 (U Ave) south of Grand Junction to investigate damage to a 1999 Ford 250 pickup truck being driven by Joby Lee Hoskinson of Grand Junction after his truck struck metal objects that were on the roadway. The Hoskinson pickup sustained an estimated $2,500 in damages. At 10:41 pm a deputy was assisted by an Iowa State Patrol officer in serving civil papers and an arrest warrant in the 900 block of State Street in Scranton. After the home owner gave consent to search the residence, Dacoda Lee Lawrence, 23, of Scranton was arrested for a probation violation and possession of drug paraphernalia*. Also arrested at the residence was Haley Marie Carrick, 31, of Scranton for interference with official acts*.
Monday, Dec. 1: Routine activity reported.
*In all cases when a defendant has been charged, this is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
