Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Greene County sheriff’s office:
Thursday, June 30: At 12:31 pm a deputy was advised of a suspicious vehicle in the 2300 block of 330th St in Washington Township. The described older silver pickup was not located at that time. At 12:37 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 200 block of E. Main Street in Grand Junction to investigate criminal mischief to the interior of a vacant building. At 1:20 pm a deputy was dispatched to a car-deer accident that occurred on County Road P-30 (R Ave) near 290th St in Franklin Township. The 2014 Mazda CX5 being driven by Peg Semke of rural Jefferson sustained an estimated $1,500 in damages. The vehicle was driven from the scene by the owner. The injured deer ran into the timber and was not located.
Wednesday, June 29: At 5:33 am a deputy was dispatched to a car-deer accident that occurred on County Road P-46 (W Ave) between 260th and 270th Streets north of Rippey. A 2011 Ford Fusion being driven by Tyler Gene Gathercoal, 24, of Grand Junction was southbound on P-46 when he struck a deer that ran from the west ditch. Gathercoal was not injured but his 2011 Ford Fusion sustained an estimated $8,000 in damages and was towed from the scene. At 4:05 pm a deputy, the Rippey fire department, Grand Junction fire and rescue and Greene County EMS were all dispatched to a two vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of U Ave and 320th St in Washington Township. Robert Eric Muir, 50, of Rippey was southbound on U Ave driving a 2016 Ford F350 pickup truck. Jerry Dean Dennhardt, 68, of Jefferson was eastbound on 320th St driving a 2009 Chevy K350 pickup truck pulling a fifth-wheel gooseneck trailer hauling large round hay bales. Their vehicles collided in the intersection with Muir’s pickup striking the driver’s side door of Dennhardt’s pickup. Both vehicles ended up in the southeast ditch at the intersection, with Dennhardt’s coming to rest on its top. Dennhardt’s trailer detached and the round bales came off. One of the round bales struck the right side of Muir’s pickup causing supplemental damage. Both drivers were transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services and Grand Junction rescue. Dennhardt was later transported by air to a Des Moines hospital with unknown injuries. Both pickups were reported to be total losses. The air bags in both vehicles did deploy. The accident is still under investigation by the Greene County sheriff’s office.
Tuesday, June 28: At 10:06 am a deputy was advised of a gas drive off at the Casey’s General Store in Scranton. The identity of the driver is known and she will be given one week to pay for the fuel or theft charges will be initiated. At 2:31 pm a deputy assisted the Iowa State Patrol with traffic control at a single vehicle roll-over accident that occurred on Highway 25 near 280th St in Scranton Township. The ISP covered the accident. At 7:12 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 600 block of Irving St in Scranton for several German Shepherds that were intimidating and acting aggressive towards the neighbors. At 11:10 pm a deputy was asked to meet a Guthrie County deputy to take custody of Randy Dean Kienast, 37, of Bagley, who was wanted on an outstanding Greene County warrant for failure to pay child support*.
Monday, June 27: At 5:34 pm a deputy spoke with a resident in the 200 block of Hager St in Grand Junction about some items that were found in a juvenile’s back pack. At 5:40 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of S. 7th St in Grand Junction for a harassment concern. At 5:49 pm a deputy was dispatched to Grand Junction to investigate a reported suspicious truck with a male subject hanging out the vehicle while it was moving. The described truck was not located at that time. At 6:13 pm a deputy spoke with a resident in the 600 block of Lincoln St in Scranton about a harassment concern. At 8:06 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of Howard St in Rippey for a child custody dispute.
Sunday, June 26: At 1:36 am, a deputy was dispatched to Grand Junction to try and locate a vehicle that was displaying red/ blue flashing lights within the grill of the SUV. At 2:41 am a deputy was dispatched to the 800 block of Jay St in Churdan for a reported fight in progress. After the deputy’s arrival and investigation, Robert Earl Rivers Sr, 55, of Fort Dodge was arrested and transported to the Greene County Law Enforcement Center for assault while displaying a dangerous weapon*. At 4:45 am a deputy will be charging two more adult male subjects for interference with official acts relating to the previous fight and arrest in Churdan. At 9:29 am a deputy was advised of a trespassing and criminal mischief concern in the 300 block of Howard St in Rippey.
Saturday, June 25: At 1:13 am a deputy was advised of a possible assault that occurred at the bar in Scranton. At 2:17 pm a deputy assisted a JPD officer with trying to locate a juvenile female that had left her home after a family altercation. The juvenile was located by a parent and found to be safe. At 4:11 pm, a deputy was dispatched for a noise concern in the 400 block of Lincoln St in Scranton. At 4:25 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 800 block of Percival St in Grand Junction for a theft report of tools being taken from a residence in the 300 block of Howard St in Rippey.
Friday, June 24: Routine activity reported.
Thursday, June 23: At 5:08 am a deputy was advised of a car-deer accident that occurred on Highway 30 near Orchard Ave east of Jefferson. The driver reported that she had left the scene and would get a DOT state report at the Law Enforcement Center to fill out at a later time.
Wednesday, June 22: At 10:29 am a deputy was dispatched to the 800 block of Main St East in Grand Junction to investigate the reported theft of a bicycle. At 11:06 am a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of South 11th St in Grand Junction for a dog running at large. At 11:28 am the Greene County sheriff’s office, Greene County Emergency Medical Services, Jefferson fire department and Churdan rescue all assisted the Iowa State Patrol with a two vehicle accident that occurred at the Raccoon River Bridge, west of Jefferson on Highway 30. Four persons were transported to the Greene County Medical Center and two were later transported by helicopter to Des Moines. The Iowa State Patrol is in charge of the investigation. At 7:03 pm a deputy spoke with a Greene County resident about the possible violation of a no-contact order. At 7:39 pm a deputy assisted with CPR and the use of his AED at a medical call in the 900 block of Grant St in Scranton. Greene County EMS responded to transport the patient. At 9:37 pm a deputy assisted a JPD officer with trying to locate a wanted male subject in Jefferson.
Tuesday, June 21: At 11:15 am a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of 130th St in Cedar Township to investigate the illegal dumping of dead trees on the owner’s property.
Monday, June 20: At 6:28 am a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of Howard St in Rippey to investigate a reported domestic assault. At 9:52 am the sheriff assisted a probation officer with checking the status of a female in Grand Junction. At 11:16 am a deputy was dispatched to a construction site in the northeast part of Greene County to investigate the theft of copper wire and two 18 volt batteries. At 12:36 pm a deputy was advised of a possible sexual assault case that occurred in the 2100 block of 340th St in Washington Township several years ago.
At 1:40 pm the sheriff was dispatched to the 2300 block of County Road E-26 (170th St) east of Dana for a reported semi-tractor with tanker that was unloading an unknown liquid along the roadway. It was determined that the semi- tanker was down loading water and chemical to a farm field sprayer that was spraying crops in the area. At 2:04 pm a deputy was advised of two Sparky’s One Stop locations in Greene County receiving bad checks with insufficient funds from the same subject. At 2:30 pm a deputy was dispatched to 9th Street North in Grand Junction to investigate criminal mischief to the windshield of a vehicle that was struck by a rock that was thrown from a truck tire.
Sunday, June 19: At 4:52 pm Greene County dispatchers were advised by the Carroll County sheriff’s office of a kayak that was lost on the Raccoon River in Carroll County and that if found in Greene County the owner was safe and not with the kayak.
Saturday, June 18: At 10:30 am a deputy was dispatched for a reported two vehicle accident that occurred at the intersection of Cedar and Madison Streets in Scranton. Nancy Jean Hanaman of rural Rippey was southbound on Cedar St and had stopped at the stop sign. Hanaman then proceeded to cross Madison Street and was struck by an eastbound 1999 Jeep Cherokee that was being driven by Diana Marie Thomas of Scranton. Neither driver was injured and both refused medical services. Hanaman was cited for failure to yield to the vehicle in the right. Damage to Thomas’s Jeep was estimated to be $10,000. Damage to Hanaman’s 2013 Toyota Camry was estimated to be $10,000. At 6:06 pm a deputy, while serving civil papers, located and arrested Nicole Danielle Weese, 29, of Jefferson on an outstanding warrant for burglary – third degree*. At 9:21 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 400 block of Bell Street in Churdan to investigate a harassment concern.
Friday, June 17: At 2:06 am, a deputy was dispatched to the 700 block of W Ave in Junction Township to investigate the report of several suspicious vehicles parked on the roadway. The responding deputy did initiate several traffic stops and determined the identity of all involved. At 5:50 am a deputy, the chief deputy and the sheriff all responded to a rural residence in the 2300 block of County Road E-26 (170th St) east of Dana for what was first reported to be several juveniles being held within the residence and not being allowed to leave. The chief deputy and the sheriff were given permission to enter the home and locate the two youth. The issue was resolved without incident. At 12:24 pm a deputy is investigating criminal mischief to several truck tires on a semi-tractor trailer in the 400 block of County Road P-29 (N Ave) in Dawson Township. At 7:31 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of 4th St in Rippey for a reported harassment concern.
Thursday, June 16: At 9:15 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of Bell St in Churdan for the report of stolen vehicle. The vehicle was taken by a relative without the owner’s consent. The vehicle was entered with the State DPS as stolen. At 10:05 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of 7th St in Grand Junction to investigate criminal mischief to a vehicle.
Wednesday, June 15: At 2:03 pm a deputy was dispatched to the city park in Scranton to investigate several youth jumping out of the windows at the park shelter house. At 2:49 pm the Greene County sheriff’s office, Rippey fire department, Greene County Emergency Medical Services and Grand Junction rescue all assisted the Iowa State Patrol with a single fatality accident that occurred at the intersection of 2nd and Howard Streets in Rippey. A Ford pickup truck being driven by Nicholas Carter Rice, 18, of Rippey, was southbound on 2nd St when a Honda ATV being driven by Keith Lavern Devilbiss, 78, of Rippey was westbound on Howard St. The two vehicles collided at the intersection. Devilbiss was pronounced dead at the scene. The three Iowa State Patrol officers at the scene are still investigating the accident. At 7:09 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 300 block of 13th St in Grand Junction to investigate a reported burglary. A juvenile male will be charged with burglary- third degree in connection with the entry into the home.
Tuesday, June 14: At 10:12 am the sheriff’s office assisted the JPD with a domestic assault call in the 300 block of N. Chestnut St in Jefferson. At 5:46 pm Greene County dispatchers were advised of several trees that were blown down in Scranton during the thunderstorm. At 6:02 pm two deputies and Alliant Energy personnel were dispatched to the intersection of Highway 30 and 25 north of Scranton for power lines that were partially down and blocking traffic for larger trucks. At 6:32 pm a deputy was advised of a large tree blocking the roadway in the 300 block of 17th Street North in Grand Junction. The city crew removed the tree. At 9:04 pm a deputy assisted a JPD officer with the arrest of a male subject in the 900 block of Pinet St in Jefferson.
Monday, June 13: At 4:08 pm a deputy spoke with a Grand Junction resident in the 600 block of Hager Street regarding an identity theft concern. At 5:56 pm two deputies, an Iowa State Patrol officer, Grand Junction fire and rescue and Greene County Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to a single vehicle rollover accident on 250th Street between the intersections of S and T Avenues in Junction Township, where a juvenile female was reported to be pinned under the vehicle. Grand Junction rescue used inflatable air bags to life the vehicle from the female. She was reported to be talking to the first on scene and was conscious during the entire ordeal. The female was transported to the Greene County Medical Center for unknown injuries. She was later transported to Des Moines for further medical evaluation. The Iowa State Patrol investigated the accident; the report has not been released as of 8:30 June 14.
Sunday, June 12: At 8:08 pm Greene County dispatchers were advised of a pavement blow up or buckling of the roadway on Highway 30 east of Jefferson. The DOT was advised of the road condition. At 10:34 pm a deputy while on routine patrol in Scranton witnessed an erratic driver and initiated a traffic stop upon that pickup. After an investigation and field sobriety testing the deputy subsequently arrested Randy Dean Esslinger, 61, of Bayard for OWI –first offense (serious misdemeanor)*.
Saturday, June 11: Routine activity reported.
Friday, June 10: At 12:38 am, a deputy witnessed an erratic driver on Highway 144 and followed that driver into Paton. The driver was witnessed to be driving on the wrong side of a two way street and subsequently stopped. After an initial investigation and the driver’s refusal to preform field sobriety for the deputy, Timothy James Lee, 38, of Paton was arrested and taken into custody for operating while intoxicated – second offense*. He was also cited for open container of alcohol in a vehicle and driving on the wrong side of a two way highway. At 8:53 am a deputy was advised of the possible theft of a ladder from a rural residence in the 1600 block of 260th St in Grant Township. At 9:10 am a deputy spoke with a Rippey resident about her identity being compromised and a credit card account being opened without her knowledge. At 1:50 pm members of the Greene County sheriff’s office assisted the JPD with a search warrant in Jefferson. At 8:23 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 500 block of High St in Scranton to collect some prescription medications that were set on the curb for trash pickup. The discarded medications were brought to the LEC to be disposed of during the annual drug take back initiative. The Greene County sheriff’s office will take discarded medications any time of the year at the Law Enforcement Center in Jefferson.
Thursday, June 9: At 3:09 pm a deputy was dispatched to the 1000 block of County Road E-63 (330th St) in Greenbrier Township to investigate an abandoned pickup truck that appears to have been intentionally left at the old building site.
Wednesday, June 8: At 7:26 am dispatchers at the Greene County LEC received several calls about a white Jeep being driven erratically and dangerously in the southern part of the county. A deputy was advised that the Jeep was northbound on Highway 144, north of Rippey. Three members of the sheriff’s office responded and a deputy stopped the vehicle on Highway 144 a mile south of Grand Junction. After an evaluation and field sobriety testing the deputy subsequently arrested Justin Ray Lopez, 18, of Jefferson for driving while under the influence – first offense*. He was also cited for speeding 10 mph over the limit. At 4:19 pm a deputy, an ISP officer, Jefferson fire department and Greene County Emergency Medical Services personnel were dispatched for a vehicle that had driven into the ditch on Highway 30, just west of County Road P-14 (J Ave) west of Jefferson. The driver was reported to be experiencing a medical condition and was transported to the Greene County Medical Center. At 11:50 pm dispatchers were advised of a power pole that was sparking and burning in the 1000 block of County Road E-53 (240th St) in Jackson Township. Midland Power, the Jefferson Fire Department, an Iowa State Patrol Officer and a deputy all responded.
Tuesday, June 7: At 8:30 am a deputy was advised of the theft of several permanent yard fixtures from a Grand Junction residence in the 1000 block of E. Hager St. At 3:18 pm a deputy was dispatched to Scranton to try and locate a juvenile male subject that was reported to be walking near Main St with what was reported to be a skinning knife attached to his belt. The described male was not located. At 7:32 pm a deputy was asked by the Perry PD to try and locate a male subject in Rippey that was wanted on a Dallas County warrant. The male was not located at that time.
Monday, June 6: At 12:18 pm the Greene County sheriff’s office and the JPD were advised of a liquid being spilled from a moving eastbound Union Pacific train. Greene County dispatchers advised the Department of Natural Resources of the unknown liquid that was leaking from a train. DNR Hotline officials advised that they were made aware of the spill at approximately 10 am on Monday. UP indicated that the clear liquid was tallow, an animal byproduct. The train had left Missouri Valley early in the day and traveled to Cedar Rapids, spilling what was believed to be 30,000 gallons of the product, due to a cap being left off of the rail car. At 5:08 pm a deputy assisted a JPD officer with a traffic accident in the 1200 block of Elm St in Jefferson.
Sunday, June 5: At 2:02 pm, a deputy and the Rippey fire department responded to a vehicle that was reported to be on fire in the 100 block of Lovejoy St in Rippey. The vehicle fire appears to be suspicious and is under investigation at this time. At 9:44 pm a deputy was dispatched for a car-deer accident that occurred on County Road N-65 (D Ave) between 182nd and 185th Streets in Cedar Township. Natalie Phyllis Carlson of Boone was northbound on N-65 when a deer ran onto the roadway and was struck by her 2003 Mercury Sable. Carlson was not injured but her vehicle sustained an estimated $4500 in damages. At 10:01 pm a deputy was unable to locate several vehicles that were reported to be revving their engines near 16th and Sandoe St in Grand Junction.
Saturday, June 4: At 2:02 pm a deputy assisted a JPD with a reported domestic assault call between a male and female near the Home State Bank in Jefferson. At 3:36 pm a deputy was advised of a possible intoxicated driver on County Road P-33 (S Ave) near County Road E-53 (235th St). The deputy and a JPD officer located and stopped the vehicle in question, as it was westbound on E-53 towards Jefferson, and subsequently arrested Barbra Ann Sherman, 62, of Jamaica for operating under the influence and three counts of child endangerment*.
Friday, June 3: At 2:21 pm a deputy was advised by a Churdan resident of an identity theft issue involving his social security number being compromised by unknown individuals in Texas to get a Discover card. At 11:16 pm a deputy initiated a traffic stop for a faulty headlight and subsequently arrested Alysha Nicole Steece, 38, of Jefferson on an outstanding warrant from Story County.
Thursday, June 2: At 5:08 am a deputy was dispatched for a car-deer accident that occurred on Highway 144 just north of Rippey. Samantha May Knosp, 50, of Grand Junction struck a deer as it ran onto the roadway. Knosp was not injured but her 2010 Ford Fusion sustained an estimated $2,000 in damages. At 5:21 am three members of the Greene County sheriff’s office responded for the report of two vehicles in the ditch in the 2400 block of 180th St in Junction Township. Upon further investigation at the scene, a deputy subsequently arrested Talon David Church, 19, of Ogden for possession of marijuana- second offense, possession with the Intent to deliver, and unlawful possession of a prescription drug*. Dawnece Lynn Leichliter, 18, of Boone was issued a citation for failure to maintain control.
Wednesday, June 1: At 1:07 pm, a deputy, the chief deputy and K-9 Leo were asked to search the hallway at the Cobblestone Inn at Jefferson. At 9 pm after an investigation a deputy located a dog that was reportedly taken from a residence in the 1500 block of 120th St in Dawson Township. The dog was found at a residence in the 1100 block of H Ave in Bristol Township and returned to the rightful owner. Charges are pending further investigation.
. *In all cases when a defendant has been charged, this is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
