Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Jefferson police department:
Friday, April 30: At 5:20 am a resident spoke to an officer at the LEC asking for assistance in obtaining a hotel room for the day. The officer reached out to local clergy to assist. At 8:39 pm a traffic stop near the intersection of Highways 30 and 4 resulted in an arrest for operating while intoxicated. The officer is not yet certified and requested assistance from a sheriff’s deputy to perform standardized field sobriety testing on a female driver. The deputy arrested the subject. The officer cited Jamie Lynn Solt of Fort Dodge for open container- driver. At 11:38 pm a complainant reported numerous violations of a protective order; the officer is investigating.
Thursday, April 29: At 8:13 am a complainant reported a vehicle missing vehicle from Super 8 hotel. She reported a male staying with her in the hotel had taken the vehicle. Officers located the vehicle a short time later at a residence in the 300 block of E. Lincoln Way and spoke with the male. The officer learned the subject had an active Polk County arrest warrant for harassment- first degree. Rodney Charles Sheffield, 34, of Des Moines* was arrested and transported to Polk County. The vehicle was returned to the complainant. At 9:28 staff at Casa de Oro reported receiving two counterfeit $20 bills. Staff did not know who used the currency at the restaurant.
Wednesday, April 28: Routine activity reported.
Tuesday, April 27: At 3:30 pm while assisting with Teen Maze at the middle school, a student spoke with an officer about concerns for his father. The officer gathered information and passed it to DHS. At 7:55 pm a caller advised of young children throwing rocks at an empty residence in the 800 block of W. Monroe St. The officer located the children and spoke to them and a parent about the report. No damage had occurred.
Monday, April 26: At 6:45 pm a mother requested assistance from officers in getting her juvenile son to come inside the house. The officers worked with her and the juvenile and he went inside. At 9:17 pm staff at Cobble Stone Inn requested an officer for two guests stealing items. The officer arrived and was shown video surveillance of a male and female removing food and drink items from a private fridge at the facility and returning to their room. The officers arrested Jeremy Ernest Andrews, 32, of Jefferson and Gailee Nichole Richter, 19, of Jefferson for theft- fifth degree (simple misdemeanor)*. Both subjects were advised they were no longer allowed to stay at the hotel and to gather their belongings from the room. At the jail, a jailer located possible narcotic related items in a backpack while inventorying the property. Future charges are pending in that matter.
Sunday, April 25: Routine activity reported.
Saturday, April 24: At 3:05 am a complainant reported criminal mischief to her residence and a vehicle in the 400 block of W. Russell St. A vehicle hood and a window in the residence had been damaged by a known male. Damage estimates are $1200 to the vehicle and $500 to replace the window of the residence. The officer’s investigation has led to requests for arrest warrants for Russell Lee Gardner, 45, of Panora for criminal mischief- second degree (Class D felony), harassment- first degree (aggravated misdemeanor), and driving while license barred (aggravated misdemeanor)*.
Friday, April 23: At 7:35 am a complainant requested an officer at a residence in the 400 block of S. Locust St for a dog bite. The officer spoke to the complainant and his girlfriend. The two had become involved in a verbal argument and the animal bit at the complainant, tearing his clothing. The bite caused redness, but did not break the skin. The animal was placed in a 10-day in-home quarantine and the owner has a time period to license the animal with the city. At 9:59 am officers executed a search warrant on a vehicle in impound. The vehicle was towed on 04/20 after an arrest. During an inventory of the vehicle, the officer located two smoking devices. The search warrant was gathered to seize the items for testing. Charges are pending lab results. At 2:41 pm a DHS case worker requested assistance from an officer in beginning a sex assault case in Jefferson. A female juvenile victim will be sent for a Forensic Interview. The investigation continues.
Thursday, April 22: At 4:06 am staff at the Greene County Medical Center emergency department advised an officer of a male who had been calling overnight. The male had called numerous times and was not making any sense. The subject lives in the county, so the information was passed the sheriff’s office. At 9:15 am a construction crew replacing concrete in the alley of the 200 block of N. Locust St requested an officer. They advised a male subject was yelling at the worker and would not leave their job site. The officer made contact with the male, who went inside on his own. At 11:50 am a caller advised an officer she is the guardian of her two young grandchildren who attend school in Jefferson. Her daughter, the children’s mother, has been at the school attempting to speak to the children against a court order. The officer spoke to school staff, who was aware of the issues. Staff advised they are watching closely and will contact the PD if the female returns. At 3:35 pm staff at HyVee requested an officer for an uncooperative customer. The officer assisted them in returning an EBT card to the subject and worked through the issue.
Wednesday, April 21: At 12:12 pm a resident requested and officer at a residence in the 900 block of W. State St. She had locked herself out of the residence and her 8-month-old child was inside alone. The officer was able to gain entry without damaging any property. At 1:40 pm a complainant spoke to an officer about a civil child custody issue occurring with her children at a residence in the 1200 block of Westwood Drive. She presented the officer with a court order stating she has full custody of two young children, who were in the care of their father at the address. The officer went to the address with the mother to retrieve the children. The officer met heavy resistance from two males at the apartment and requested assistance from the sheriff’s office. Deputies arrived and assisted in removing the children from their father, per court order. At 6:20 pm a resident in the 100 block of S. Walnut St captured a stray dog. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility.
Tuesday, April 20: At 12:35 pm a traffic stop in the 100 block of W. Washington St resulted in Derek Eugene Ott of Fort Dodge being cited for fail to provide proof of financial liability and driving while license suspended. The officer learned there were outstanding arrest warrants for Ott from Webster County and Humboldt County for parole violation*. Ott was placed under arrest and transported to the Greene County jail to be extradited to those counties. The officer had the vehicle towed to the impound lot. During an inventory of the vehicle, the officer located drug paraphernalia. The officer will request a search warrant for the vehicle and conducted a search of the car.
Monday, April 19: At 1:45 am an officer spotted a youth riding a skateboard down E. Lincoln Way. The officer spoke to the juvenile about being out after curfew. The officer transported the juvenile to her residence and spoke with her parent. Grace Holinski, 17, of Jefferson was cited for curfew violation. At 7:37 am an officer investigated a two-vehicle property damage accident in the 1000 block of W. Wall St. Jerry Dennhardt of Jefferson was driving a 2011 GMC K2500 truck owned by Mike Dennhardt of Rippey. As he pulled out of a private drive he crossed over into the oncoming lane and struck a passing 1994 Chevrolet C1500 truck owned and operated by Robert Knight of Jefferson. Damage to Knight’s vehicle was estimated at $5,000. Damage to Dennhardt’s vehicle was estimated at $3,000. At 9:55 am a complainant reported a fraudulent unemployment claim had been made under his name with Iowa Workforce Development. He needed a police report for the officials dealing with the false claim. At 8:53 pm an officer assisted the sheriff’s office by investigating a car-deer accident in the 1500 block of 235th St. Ricky Knight of Jefferson was driving a 2009 Pontiac GC owned by Donald Knight of Jefferson when he struck a deer in the roadway. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $500. The officer dispatched the deer.
Sunday, April 18: Routine activity reported.
Saturday, April 17: At 11:35 am an officer investigated a backing accident at A & W Family Restaurant. Delbert Nelsen of Lehigh was southbound in the parking lot driving his 2012 Chevrolet Malibu. Heather Rivera of Jefferson was attempting to back her 2008 Chevrolet Impala out of a parking spot and backed into Nelsen’s vehicle. No citations were issued as the accident occurred on private property. Damage to Nelsen’s vehicle was estimated at $1,000. Damage to Rivera’s vehicle was estimated at $800. At 8:11 pm staff at the Boone County jail requested a welfare check on a female in Jefferson. A JPD officer located the female and spoke with her. Family members arrived and advised they would stay overnight to ensure the female’s safety. At about 11:20 pm an officer was requested at the residence. The officer was attempting to transport the female to Greene County Medical Center for a medical evaluation when she assaulted the officer by punching him twice in the face after slipping the handcuffs. She was taken to the emergency room, but continued to be uncooperative with the officer and medical staff. Erica Kay Murphy, 30, of Jefferson was arrested for assault on a peace officer* and booked into the county jail.
Friday, April 16: At 7:34 am a complainant reported the theft of her minivan from a residence in the 500 block of W. Madison St. The 2011 Kia Sedona had been taken sometime overnight while the keys were left in it. The officer entered the vehicle in NCIC as a stolen motor vehicle. The finance company had GPS on the vehicle and provided officers the vehicle’s location in Des Moines. The officer requested assistance from Des Moines PD in locating the vehicle. The van was recovered by Des Moines PD on 04/17. The officer is investigating. At 2:15 pm an officer met at the animal holding facility a subject with a stray dog caught in Churdan. The officer placed the dog in the facility. At 11:29 am Jefferson public works staff requested an officer in the 1900 block of N. Grimmell Rd. They had located a road sign in the ditch that had a chain, padlock, and handcuffs on it. At 7:14 pm an officer performed a traffic stop with a vehicle on County Road E-53 (237th St) west of Deer Run. The officer learned the driver had borrowed the vehicle from a cousin. The vehicle did not have a Registration or insurance. The officer had the vehicle towed to Impound until these items are placed on the vehicle.
Thursday, April 15: At 9:58 am a complainant reported her 15-year-old son had not arrived at school as he should have. An officer located the juvenile a short time later. He was released to his mother. At 1:26 pm an officer responded to a property damage collision in the 100 block of N. Walnut St. Krystal Miller was driving her 1996 Ford Expedition when it entered the yard at 106 N. Walnut St and struck a utility pole and parked 2004 Ford F150 pickup truck owned by Robert Frederickson. The officer’s investigation determined that Miller had jump started the Expedition while parked at 105 N. Walnut St. When she started the vehicle, it shifted into reverse. It crossed the street and collided with the pole and the other vehicle. Miller was cited for failure to have financial liability coverage – accident related. *****The Greene County sheriff’s office provided coverage from 6 pm Thursday to 12 am Friday.
Wednesday, April 14: JPD reported routine activity. *****Coverage was provided by the sheriff’s office from 6 pm to 6 am April 15.
Tuesday, April 13: Routine activity reported.
Monday, April 12: Routine activity reported.
Sunday, April 11: Routine activity reported.
Saturday, April 10: At 10:27 am an officer responded to a residential burglary alarm I the 700 block of W. Harrison St. The homeowner had accidentally tripped the alarm. At 3:02 pm city parks department staff reported criminal mischief occurring again at the Kelso Park shelter house. Unknown subjects had spray painted graffiti on the rock walls again. At 6 pm a complainant reported her juvenile son had been involved in a brief fight with neighboring kids. She requested the officer to speak to their parents and request that the children not play with each other any further. The officer did so. At 9:09 pm a complainant requested an officer at Sparky’s One Stop and reported her friend had been assaulted by her husband. The officer met with the female and began an investigation. The female had facial injuries consistent with her being assaulted. The officer made numerous attempts to locate the husband, but was unsuccessful. The officer has requested an arrest warrant for Christopher Herbert Lawrence, 40, of Jefferson for domestic abuse assault- second offense (aggravated misdemeanor)*.
Friday, April 9: Routine activity reported.
Thursday, April 8: At 8:20 am the police chief and sheriff assisted staff at Greene County Medical Center with serving a ban and bar trespass form on a male subject. The staff members had experienced threats and unacceptable behavior from the male on several visits in the past. The subject was served and advised not to return, or face an arrest for trespassing. At 12:15 pm a subject brought a captured stray cat to the LEC. The officer placed the cat in the animal holding facility.
Wednesday, April 7: At 4:03 am an officer spotted an occupied vehicle parked at Russell Park and approached the vehicle. The officer spoke with a female driver and male passenger about park hours. During the interaction, the officer requested consent to search the vehicle. Consent was granted and the officer located a smoking device with burnt residue and a small baggy containing a small amount of suspected marijuana. The officer seized the items and concluded the consent search. The officer issued a citation for curfew violation to Sean Detlef Coil, 16, of Jefferson. The officer has requested an arrest warrant for Lydia Becky Leggit, 19, of Jefferson for possession of drug paraphernalia (simple misdemeanor)*. At 9:22 am a complainant advised of a fox in his neighbor’s live trap near McKinley St and N. Wilson Ave. The officer spoke to a party involved with the live trap and offered to remove the fox from the city for them. The fox was released miles from Jefferson. At 11:29 am staff at HyVee reported receiving three checks on a closed account from a female. The officer provided the business with a 10-day notice packet to send the party a notice on the bad checks. If no response is made to correct the issue after the notice has been served, the business may pursue theft charges. At 8:02 pm a Greene County coach requested an officer at the high school for a possible child abuse issue. The coach had a conversation with a student, who advised he is abused daily by his father. The officer spoke with the student and the parents. The officer learned of nothing that constituted child abuse. The student left with his parents. At 11:31 pm a deputy requested an officer to respond to a caller report of a vehicle upside down in the ditch south of Jefferson on Highway 4. The officer responded and searched several miles of the area, but did not locate the vehicle. The deputy arrived and took over the call for service. *****An officer has concluded an investigation of criminal mischief to the Doreen Wilber statue, reported on 03/18. The officer identified the male juvenile through video from the area. A charge of criminal mischief fourth degree (aggravated misdemeanor) has been sent to the juvenile court for a 12-year-old Jefferson male.
Tuesday, April 6: At 3:57 pm a complainant advised her juvenile son was assaulted on the school bus. It was reported another student had stabbed him in the side with a pencil. The officer is investigating. At 7:48 pm staff at the Greene County Medical Center emergency department requested an officer for a transient male who would not leave the facility. The officer arrived and identified the male and spoke with him. The male left the area on his own free will.
Monday, April 5: At 7:20 am city parks department staff reported criminal mischief damage at the Kelso Park shelter house. Subjects had spray painted the fireplace rocks on both sides of the shelter house. Officers will be watching all city parks closely as a suspect is not known at this time. At 4:24 pm a mother requested an officer at Greene County Community Center as a juvenile had thrown rocks at her juvenile son. The officer arrived and spoke to all parties and parents of the children and resolved the issue. At 5:05 pm staff at Greene County Medical Center emergency department requested an officer for a patient with a dog bite. The officer learned the female had entered her neighbor’s property and reached over a fence to pet a dog. The dog bit her index finger, causing lacerations to her finger. The officer is working to verify rabies vaccinations on the animal and has placed it in a 10-day in-home quarantine period. The officer has given the animal’s owner a time period to become compliant with animal licensing ordinances. The dog was provoked according to ordinance and faces no action, based on ordinances.
Sunday, April 4: Routine activity reported. *****The Greene County sheriff’s office provided overnight Jefferson coverage from 6 pm to 6 am April 5.
Saturday, April 3: At 1:12 pm an officer was advised a subject had caught a stray dog near N. Elm and W. Washington Sts. The officer placed the dog in the animal holding facility. *****The Greene County sheriff’s office provided overnight Jefferson coverage from 6 pm to 6 am April 4.
Friday, April 2: At 4:32 pm a complainant requested an officer at a residence in the 1200 block of Riverside Drive as her juvenile son had assaulted her. The officer arrived and spoke to both parents and the child. The officer is sending juvenile charges for assault – simple” to the juvenile court for the 13-year-old male. *****The Greene County sheriff’s office provided overnight Jefferson coverage from 6 pm to 6 am April 3.
Thursday, April 1: At 2:10 am an officer spotted two individuals looking into business windows on the north side of the square and spoke with them. They were getting free coats off of the rack in the 100 block of E. Lincoln Way. At 11:39 am a complainant reported a male attempting to sell tools out of his car at Casey’s General Store. The subject had left before the officer arrived in the area. At 8:30 pm a complainant reported a foul odor near the 100 block of W. Wilcoxway. The officer determined farmers had spread manure on a farm field south of town and the wind was blowing the odor into Jefferson.
*Note: All charges are merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
