Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Greene County sheriff’s office:
Thursday, Dec. 31: At 11:42 am, a deputy was dispatched for the report of a male subject discharging a firearm from a white pickup near the Webster-Greene County line on County Road P-33 (R Ave) in Dawson Township. The described vehicle was not located in that area upon the deputy’s arrival. At 3:30 pm a deputy agreed to assist the Department of Human Services with a juvenile sexual assault case initiated in Greene County.
Wednesday, Dec. 30: At 1:09 am, a deputy assisted a JPD officer with a reported burglary call in Jefferson. At 10:28 am a deputy was advised of a continuing harassment concern that a Churdan resident continues to receive. Charges will be initiated against the female sending the text messages. At 2:39 pm a deputy was dispatched for a minor two vehicle accident that occurred in the Casey’s General Store parking lot in Scranton. Minor damage was reported to one vehicle.
Tuesday, Dec. 29: At 2:17 am, a deputy was dispatched to assist a driver who had driven off the roadway on County Road E-18 (130th St) near Y Ave in Paton Township after the driver struck a large snowdrift. The deputy assisted until the vehicle was towed. At 6:59 am the chief deputy sheriff checked an abandoned vehicle that had become stuck in a farm field drive on Highway 4 near 150th St in Dawson Township. At 10:52 am the chief deputy sheriff checked another abandoned vehicle off the roadway on Highway 30 near Pioneer Ave east of Jefferson. The deputy had the vehicle towed from the scene. At 6:10 pm a deputy was advised of the possible theft of a vehicle from Calhoun County.
Monday, Dec.28: At 7:29 am, the chief deputy sheriff was dispatched for the report of suspicious activity at the Casey’s General Store in Grand Junction. A nonresident female was attempting to pay for gas with several credit cards that were declined. The female was allowed by Casey’s personnel to continue home, but return and pay for the fuel no later than Dec. 29 or the deputy would file a theft charge. The driver was also issued a citation for driving while suspended.
Sunday, Dec. 27: At 2:04 am a deputy investigated a harassment concern received by a rural resident in the 1100 block of Orchard Ave in Hardin Township. At 7:21 pm a deputy and the Scranton fire department responded to a garage fire at 1004 Eagle Street in Scranton. The garage was fully engulfed upon the fire department’s arrival. Troy Jordan explained to the deputy that he was working in the garage when he noticed the wall was on fire and he exited the building. Several other buildings contiguous to the fire were also damaged. Alliant Energy was also dispatched to the scene due to power lines being damaged or down. No damage estimate was determined at this time.
Saturday, Dec. 26: At 2:06 am a Greene County deputy tried to stop a blue Buick Century that was traveling south on Highway 4 near 190th St north of Jefferson. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle for driving with a headlight out. The Buick quickly sped up to around 100 mph. The deputy requested assistance from the JPD who did assist with the chase. The vehicle continued east on Highway 30 where it turned south on 144. The Greene County deputy lost control of his vehicle on a rough gravel road and ended up in the ditch. Boone County, Dallas County, Perry police department, and the Iowa State Patrol took over the chase. The chase took about another hour at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The car lost control just west of Dallas Center on 230th St. The driver of the car, Zachary Michael Anderson Wailes, 21, of Breda was placed under arrest and transported to the Greene County law enforcement center. Wailes had an outstanding warrant out of Carroll County. He was charged in Greene County with felony eluding, felony drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia* and numerous other traffic violations. At 1:48 pm a deputy assisted JPD officers with a call in the 700 block of S. Oak St in Jefferson. At 6:47 pm three members of the Greene County sheriff’s office, the Scranton fire department, Greene County Emergency Medical Services and three Iowa State Patrol officers all responded to a single vehicle accident with one fatality on Highway 25 south of Scranton near 280th St. The single fatality accident was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol. Sydney Morgan Thomas, 20, of Des Moines, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Greene County medical examiner. At 8:24 pm a deputy was asked to locate a juvenile by a relative that may be at a residence in Grand Junction. The deputy checked a residence in the 200 block of E. Hager St and located the male juvenile in question. After an investigation the deputy arrested and transported him to the Greene County law enforcement center. He was booked into the jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance- first offense.
Friday, Dec. 25: Routine activity reported.
Thursday, Dec. 24: At 5:44 am a deputy was asked by a JPD officer to help try and locate a male subject that had threatened harm towards several other male subjects. At 6:40 am a deputy was dispatched to a reported single vehicle accident that occurred on Main St in Scranton. Upon the deputy’s arrival, he had found Timothy Sullivan of Scranton had struck a light pole in front of the post office. The pole was not damaged. At 10 am a deputy was advised of cattle walking along the roadway on 255th St west of Quaker Ave in Grant Township. The owner of the cattle was advised of the situation. At 10:20 am a deputy was dispatched for two vehicles being reported in the ditch on Highway 25, two miles south of Scranton. No injuries were reported and neither vehicle sustained any damage. The deputy remained on scene until the vehicles were removed. At 11:10 am a deputy checked the status of several vehicles in the ditch on Highway 4 south of Jefferson. The deputy provided traffic control until the vehicles were pulled from the ditch. At 11:24 am a deputy checked the report of a vehicle in the ditch on S Ave and County Road P-33 west of Paton. At 11:37 a deputy was dispatched for a semi-tractor trailer partially blocking the roadway on 230th St near Jordan Ave in Jackson Township. The semi was later moved from the roadway. At 12:02 pm a deputy was dispatched to check a vehicle that was reported to be in the ditch north of Highway 4 on County Road P-29 (N Ave) in Dawson Township. At 12:02 pm a deputy checked a second vehicle in the ditch on Highway 4 near P-29. At 12:25 pm a deputy was dispatched for a vehicle in the ditch on P-29 between 120th and 130th St. At 1:19 pm a deputy, the chief deputy sheriff, Greene County Emergency Medical Services and Churdan fire and rescue all responded to a two vehicle accident north of Highway 4 on P-29. Carly Marie Marquardt, 27, of Paton was northbound on P-29 when the wheels of her 2011 Chevrolet Malibu dropped off the road and she lost control on the snow covered roadway. Her vehicle slid into a 205 Chrysler Town and Country van driven by Eileen Ethel Brennan, 72, of Fort Dodge. Brennan was transported to Greene County Medical Center by Churdan rescue. Deborah Anne Larson-Moeller, 64, of Fort Dodge, a passenger in Brennan’s vehicle, was transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services. Damage to Marquardt’s vehicle was estimated at $9,000. Damage to Brennan’s vehicle was estimated at $5,000. At 2:06 pm a deputy provided traffic control for a vehicle being removed from the ditch on P-29 and 100th St in Dawson Township. At 3:30 pm, a deputy checked an abandoned vehicle in the ditch on County Road E-53 (235th St) east of Q Ave east of Jefferson.
Wednesday, Dec. 23: At 1:17 pm a deputy and a JPD officer were asked to check for several described vehicles in the casino parking lot. At 1:25 pm a deputy and Grand Junction Fire and Rescue were dispatched to single vehicle accident on County Road E-26 (170th St), east of Dana. Jonathan Andrew Majerus, 64, of Paton, was eastbound on E-26 driving a 2000 Sterling feed truck owned by Juhl Feed Store of Dana when, due to snow covered slick roads, he slid into the south ditch coming to rest on its side. Majerus was transported to the Greene County Medical Center for further evaluation by Grand Junction rescue. The feed on the truck was off loaded to another truck before being pulled from the ditch. No damage estimate to the Juhl Feed truck was reported at that time. At 2:13 pm a deputy was dispatched for a single vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 30 east of Grand Junction. Emmanuel Lopez-Mendoza, 59, of Sioux City went into the ditch, causing an estimated $3000 in damage to his 2002 Trailblazer. No injuries were reported and no citations were issued due to the poor road conditions. At 2:47 pm, a deputy assisted an empty semi-tractor trailer on the Union Pacific railroad overpass east of Grand Junction that was unable to gain traction and continue over the overpass. At 2:45 pm a deputy was advised of a possible harassment concern from a resident in the 1200 block of 160th St in Bristol Township. At 3:03 pm a Boone County deputy sheriff assisted the Greene County sheriff’s office with checking a vehicle that had slid into the ditch near the Boone-Greene County line. No injuries were reported and no damage to the vehicle was reported. At 3:08 pm a deputy received assistance from a JPD officer with checking a vehicle that had slid of the roadway on Highway 30 near Pioneer and R Ave east of Jefferson. The vehicle was abandoned and towed the next day. At 3:15 pm, a deputy was dispatched for a single vehicle accident on Highway 144 just north of Dana. Andrew James King, 28, of Boone slid into the ditch causing major damage to his 2006 Pontiac. Due to a tow ban being in place, most vehicles were removed the next day. At 3:14 pm the sheriff was dispatched for traffic control for a Fed Ex truck that slid off the roadway on County Road P-33 (S Avenue) near County Road E-26 in Hardin Township. At 3:17 pm a deputy checked several other vehicles that were abandoned along the roadway near Grand Junction. At 3:57 pm a deputy checked a reported vehicle that had slid into the ditch near the 2200 block of Highway 4 in Franklin Township. The driver was transported by a relative and the vehicle was towed the next day. At 4:12 pm the sheriff was dispatched for a vehicle that had slid into the ditch on Highway 144 north of Dana, that had struck a vehicle that had previously gone into the ditch. Teresa Ann Beem, 51, of Webster City was northbound on Highway 144 when she lost control of her vehicle. Beem’s 2012 Toyota Camry struck an abandoned vehicle already in the ditch causing an estimated $3,000 in damages to her car. Beem and a passenger were not injured and were transported to the Paton Pit Stop in Paton to be picked up by a relative driving from Webster City. At 4:33 pm the sheriff also checked another vehicle that had slid off the roadway on Highway 144 several blocks north of the previous accident. The driver advised that she had a ride coming from Paton and did not need any further assistance. Her car was not damaged. At 5:47 pm two deputies assisted a handicapped passenger in a vehicle that had driven into the ditch on Highway 144 one mile south of Grand Junction. The deputy transported the passenger to Grand Junction until the second deputy and a tow service removed the vehicle. At 6 pm a deputy was advised of an abandoned vehicle that was involved in a rollover accident on S Ave near 290th St in Washington Township. The owner was contacted and advised that the accident occurred the previous evening. The vehicle was estimated to be a total loss.
Tuesday, Dec. 22: At 7:01 pm a deputy was dispatched to control traffic for a semi-tractor trailer that was experiencing mechanical difficulties and parked partially on the roadway on County road E-19 (140th St) west of Churdan. The deputy remained on scene until the semi was removed.
Monday, Dec. 21: Routine activity reported.
Sunday, Dec. 20: At 3:26 am a deputy assisted the Carroll County sheriff’s office with locating a reported single vehicle roll-over accident in Carroll County, near the Greene-Carroll County line. At 8:46 am a deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 30 near County Road P-14 (J Ave) west of Jefferson. Carey Brooks Segebart, 27, of Carroll was eastbound on Highway 30 when she lost control due to black ice on the roadway. Her vehicle entered the south ditch and rolled onto its side. Segebart was not injured but her 2009 KIA SUV sustained an estimated $8,000 in damages. At 11:01 am a deputy and an Iowa State Patrol officer investigated the report of manure being spilled on the roadway in the 1600 block of County Road P-46 (W Ave) in Junction Township. The investigation is ongoing at this time.
Saturday, Dec. 19: At 2:12 am a deputy was dispatched to the 200 block of Main St in Paton to investigate the report of an assault. Charges are pending further investigation. At 7:01 pm a deputy was advised of a vehicle spotlighting in the 2400 block of 337th St in Washington Township. The area was checked by the deputy and did not find the vehicle. At 7:17 pm a deputy was dispatched to Scranton to investigate the report of road rage which resulted in an assault. The assault is under investigation by the sheriff’s office.
Friday, Dec. 18: At 7:41 pm deputies checked the report of a National Weather Service balloon, with transmitter attached, being tangled in electrical power lines in the 1500 block of 222nd St in Grant Township. The transmitter was retrieved and sent back to the location of its origin. At 5:11 pm a deputy was advised of a gas drive off from the Sparky’s One Stop in Churdan. The vehicle was not located at that time. At 5:20 pm a deputy spoke with a resident in the 800 block of Jay Street in Churdan about a harassment concern.
Thursday, Dec. 17: At 7:07 am a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of Anyer St in Dana to investigate the use of a vehicle without the owner’s consent. At. 4:57 pm a deputy was asked to check for suspicious activity at a building site in the 1400 block of County Road P-14 (J Ave) in Jackson Township.
Wednesday, Dec. 16: At 8:25 am, a deputy assisted the Department of Human Services with an investigation in Dana. At 1:15 pm a deputy investigated a harassment concern for a Churdan resident in the 600 block of Sand St. At 9:40 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of 150th St in Cedar Township for the report of shots being fired from a vehicle.
Tuesday, Dec. 15: At 9:37 pm, a deputy assisted a Carroll County deputy with traffic control on County Road N-58 (A Ave) just north of 185th St in Kendrick Township after a tree had fallen across the roadway and was blocking traffic.
Monday, Dec. 14: At 7:16 am, a deputy was advised of a vehicle that was abandoned on Sandoe St. in Grand Junction after driving into ponding water. The vehicle was later removed after the water receded. At 7:23 am a deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle rollover accident on Highway 4 south of Jefferson near 257th St. Lucas Jeffery Ruppel, 24, of Perry was southbound on Highway 4 driving his 2001 Ford Explorer when due to snow on the roadway, he lost control of the vehicle and it rolled into the west ditch. Ruppel was not injured but his vehicle was determined to be a total loss. Ruppel was issued citations for failure to maintain control and failure to provide proof of financial liability. At 4:11 pm a deputy was advised of the theft of Christmas decorations from a residence in the 1100 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 4:27 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 100 block of Howard Street in Rippey to investigate a reported burglary.
Sunday, Dec. 13: At 9:08 pm a deputy checked a vehicle that was parked near the baseball field in Rippey and after an investigation, subsequently arrested Nicholas James Miner, 36, of Perry for possession of marijuana – third and subsequent offence and possession with intent to manufacture and distribute*.
Saturday, Dec. 12: At 2:19 am a deputy was asked by the Guthrie County sheriff’s office to try and locate a male subject that was on foot from a high speed chase that occurred in Guthrie County after the subject wrecked a borrowed party bus. At 2 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 2200 block of W Ave in Washington Township to investigate shots being fired dangerously close to a residence. All parties were spoken to about the incident. At 7:06 pm a deputy was dispatched for a car-deer accident that occurred on Highway 144 north of Grand Junction. Jack Don Dewitt, 63, of Jefferson was traveling southbound on Highway 144 when a deer ran onto the roadway and was struck. Dewitt was not injured but his 2015 Toyota Camry sustained an estimated $8,500 in damages.
Friday, Dec. 11: At 8:42 am the chief deputy sheriff and K-9 Leo assisted the Boone County sheriff’s office and the Boone police department with a search of the Boone High School. At 1:26 pm the chief deputy sheriff and K-9 Leo assisted a JPD officer with a search of the Greene County High School parking lot in Jefferson. K-9 Leo indicated on several vehicles in the parking lot. At 2:20 pm, a deputy was dispatched to investigate a burglary and theft from a farm residence in rural Greene County.
Thursday, Dec. 10: At 12:42 pm a deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle accident on County Road N-65 (D Ave) near 150th St in Cedar Township. The driver, Travis Frederick Venteicher, 32, of Grand Junction, had left the scene before the deputy’s arrival. The 2002 Toyota Tundra pickup, owned by New Fashion Pork of Estherville, sustained an estimated $8,000 in damages. Venteicher was issued a citation for failure to maintain control. At 9:45 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 1100 block of Highway 30 west of Jefferson for a reported vehicle in the ditch. Kurtis James Bednarik, 20, of rural Jefferson was issued citations for failure to maintain control and driving with a suspended license. Bednarik’s 2005 Ford 250 pickup sustained little damage.
Wednesday, Dec. 9: At 9:31 am a deputy was dispatched for a car-deer accident that occurred on Highway 30 west of Jefferson near the Raccoon River bridge. The deputy was soon advised that an Iowa State Patrol officer would investigate the accident and he could disregard. At 3:09 pm a deputy was advised of the theft of an outside Christmas tree from a residence in the 1100 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 10:36 pm a deputy, while on routine patrol in Grand Junction, ran the license plate on a van that the deputy viewed being driven near 16th St. The deputy learned that the license plates were stolen from a vehicle in Boone earlier in the month. The deputy and an Iowa State Trooper located the vehicle at a residence on 16th St N. in Grand Junction and after an investigation arrested Joe Edward Blackmon, 39, of Grand Junction for driving without a valid driver’s license, theft – fifth degree, criminal mischief – second degree and criminal mischief – fourth degree*.
Tuesday, Dec. 8: At 7:55 am a deputy was dispatched to the Union Pacific overpass bridge east of Grand Junction to check the welfare of a female and a small child walking along Highway 30, dangerously close to the pavement. The female explained that she was hitchhiking to Boone. She was later provided a ride from a friend. At 5:56 pm a deputy assisted several JPD officers with a call in Jefferson.
Monday, Dec. 7: At 1:45 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 1900 block of 290th St in Franklin Township for the report of cattle along the roadway. The deputy returned the cattle back into the field. At 5:29 pm, a deputy was dispatched to the intersection of 195th St and County Road E-33 (Eaton Ave) in Kendrick Township to investigate a car-deer accident. Alan Wade Krueger, 48, of Jefferson, was southbound on E-33 when a deer ran onto the roadway and was struck. Alan Krueger was not injured but his 2005 GMC Yukon K1500 sustained an estimated $1,000 in damage.
Sunday, Dec. 6: At 12:39 pm a deputy was dispatched to a domestic assault in the 800 block of Main St in Scranton. After an investigation by the deputy, Damien Michael Schwering, 22, of Scranton was arrested for domestic abuse assault- causing injury*.
Saturday, Dec. 5: At 4:19 am a deputy, while on routine patrol, checked an abandoned vehicle with its airbags deployed in the ditch at the intersection of County Road P-14 (J Ave) and County Road E-53 (240th St). After an investigation the deputy issued a citation for failure to maintain control to James Franklin Sanders, 21, of Boone. Sanders was not at the scene and no damage estimate was determined for the car.
Friday, Dec. 4: At 12:27 pm a deputy was dispatched for an abandoned e-911 call that mapped to the 800 block of Percival St in Grand Junction. After an investigation at that location, a warrant for sexual assault – second degree was issued for Coleman Keith Marlow Jr, 34, of Grand Junction*. Marlow was later found walking on Highway 30 east of Jefferson and taken into custody by the deputy. At 4:12 pm a deputy investigated the report of a juvenile being bullied and harassed at the Greene County Intermediate School in Grand Junction. At 4:55 pm, a deputy transported a male subject who was taken into custody in Dallas County back to Greene County.
Thursday, Dec. 3: At 11:40 pm a deputy assisted a Jefferson Police Officer with a call in the 700 block of S. Vine St in Jefferson.
Wednesday, Dec. 2: At 5:27 am a deputy was dispatched for a vehicle that had slid into the ditch on County Road P-29 (N Avenue) between County Road E-18 (130th St) and 140th St. The driver was not injured and the car was not damaged. From 6:49 to 8:09 am three members of the Greene County sheriff’s office were dispatched to four different single vehicle accidents throughout the county that were all due to slick road conditions. No injuries were reported and damage to the vehicles was minimal. All of the vehicles were removed later in the day when the roadways were safe.
Tuesday, Dec. 1: At 5:52 am, a deputy was dispatched to the 2400 block of 337th St in Washington Township to investigate the report of trespassing and an attempted theft. At 4:32 pm a deputy was unable to locate a reported eastbound erratic and careless driver tailgating other vehicles on Highway 30 near County Road P-14 (J Ave). At 6:41 pm a deputy was not able to locate a reported intoxicated driver leaving Jefferson for an unknown destination.
*In all cases when a defendant has been charged, this is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
