Following are excerpts of activities reported by the Jefferson police department:
Saturday, Sept. 30: At 12:26 am an officer performed a traffic stop with a driver near Hwy 30 and N. Elm St. During the encounter the officer could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. During a probable cause search of the vehicle, the officer located numerous items of paraphernalia and narcotics. The items were seized for testing, with charges pending results. Drew Hirstein of Illinois was cited for registration violation and failure to provide proof of financial liability. At 12:01 pm a complainant reported she was working at Sparky’s One-Stop when she refused to sell tobacco to a male who did not have his ID with him. She advised the subject made a threat to her. The officer will work to identify the subject. At 1:25 pm a complainant reported she was working at Wild Rose Casino the previous day and a known male repeatedly touched her inappropriately as she served drinks. The officer has requested an arrest warrant for Ricky Duane Wunschel, 67, of Wall Lake for assault- simple*. At 4:59 pm an officer arrested Breanna Dawn Mahers, 21, of Jefferson on an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to appear. At 7:22 pm a complainant reported a possible intoxicated male walking near Maple and State Sts. The complainant reported the subject kept falling down. The officer arrived and arrested William Wesley Bingle, 56, of Jefferson for public intoxication*.
Friday, Sept. 29: At 3:57 am staff at the Greene County Medical Center emergency room requested an officer for a male sleeping in the grass near the helicopter pad. The officer located the subject. His investigation led to the arrest of Michael Olson, 61, of Jefferson for public intoxication*. At 8:45 am a complainant reported two stray dogs near E. Park and S. Cedar Sts. The officer was unable to catch the dogs as they ran from him, but he recognized the dogs and went to the owner’s residents. The officer cited him for animal running at large. At 11:47 am a complainant reported catching two stray dogs near 280th St and Hwy 4 south of Jefferson. He drove the dogs to the animal shelter and the officer placed them in impound. At 12:37 pm an officer arrested Anthony Nunez, 56, of Jefferson on an outstanding warrant for probation violation*. At 6:19 pm a complainant reported a vehicle with a stereo loud enough to shake his residents went past his house in the 500 block of N. Vine St. The officer is working to identify the owner of the vehicle. At 10:13 pm a complainant reported he returned to his home in the 200 block of W. Adams St and found his back door had been forced open. Nothing was reported missing. Damage to the door was estimated at $300.
Thursday, Sept. 28: At 11:48 am a complainant reported a possible identity theft. Someone had used his Social Security number to gain unemployment benefits. The officer is investigating. At 5:31 pm staff at Greene County High School reported a student had taken photos of another male student while he was changing clothes in the restroom. The student then sent the photos to other students. The parents of the victim decided not to pursue anything criminal and let the school handle the issue. The student taking the photos was expelled for a period of time.
Monday, Sept. 25: At 11:27 am a complainant reported a stray dog in the 300 block of W. Lincoln Way. The officer placed the dog in impound. At 1:50 pm a complainant reported an accident near W. Harrison and S. West Sts. The officer learned a 1997 International dump truck, owned by Andrew Murphy and operated by Jon Murphy of Jefferson, was delivering a load of rock. The dump box was elevated and Murphy pulled ahead. He caught the overhead powerline and broke the line. Alliant Energy was called to repair the downed powerline. At 3:59 pm a complainant reported catching a stray dog in the 900 block of W. Harrison St. The officer placed the dog in impound.
Sunday, Sept. 24: At 8:47 am dispatch advised a monitoring company advised a subject’s cell phone indicates they were involved in an accident and cannot be reached. The officer located the subject and learned his phone fell out of his pocket while riding a motorcycle and was severely damaged. *****Officers issued five parking violation notices for street sweeping violation.
Saturday, Sept. 23: At 12:21 am a complainant requested assistance in locating her elderly mother, who has the onset of dementia. She believed she may be at Wild Rose Casino. The officer checked the casino. Camera footage showed the subject leaving at 10:49 pm the previous day. The vehicle went north on Hwy. 4. As the officer was leaving the casino, the vehicle passed him coming back south into town. The officer performed a traffic stop with the driver. The female was very confused. The officer had EMS check her out and the daughter came to Jefferson to pick her up. At 1:56 pm a complainant reported a family member had been harassing him by text message. The subject had come to his residence in the 200 block of S. Olive St and drove over the curb and struck his trash can. The can is owned by the city of Jefferson; it was undamaged. The officer is investigating. At 7:51 pm an officer responded with the Jefferson fire department to the 600 block of W. Russell St for a tree contacting a powerline. They remained in the area until Alliant Energy staff arrived to fix the issue. At 10:03 pm an officer performed a traffic stop near Hwy 30 and N. Grimmell Rd. During the interaction the officer saw a short-barreled shotgun in the back seat of the vehicle. The officers performed a probable cause search of the vehicle and located a glass smoking device and possible narcotics. Jerry Webb of Missouri was cited for failure to provide proof of financial liability, operating with expired driver’s license, and operating without registration. The vehicle was towed to Impound.
Friday, Sept. 22: At 8:52 am a complainant reported a semi had backed into a utility pole, knocking it over, at the Jefferson Airport. The officer estimated the pole damage at $500. The officer is working to gather information on the vehicle and driver. At 12:56 officers spotted a wanted male in the 800 block of S. Elm St. The officer arrested Robert Harvilicz on an outstanding Jefferson police warrant for violation of a protective order*. At 2:15 pm staff at Greene County Middle School requested an officer for a student caught with vaping products. The officer is investigating. At 9:24 pm a complainant reported her childcare provider admitted to using marijuana and drinking heavily when not watching children. She wanted the PD to be aware of the situation. At 10:20 pm officers performed a traffic stop with a driver in the 1400 block of N. Elm St. The officer believed the driver to be under the influence of something and requested he step out of the vehicle. The subject exited the vehicle and immediately became aggressive towards the officers. The subject spit in the face of the officer several times during the interaction and arrest. They became involved in a ground struggle and eventually gained control and handcuffed the subject. The officers received several kicks from the subject during the struggle. Devin Christopher Hackfort, 27, of Jefferson was charged with interference with official acts/bodily injury (aggravated misdemeanor), and assault on persons in certain occupation/bodily injury (aggravated misdemeanor)*. Hackfort was also cited for improper registration lamp and failure to provide proof of financial liability. The officers suffered minor injuries and are following infectious disease follow-up protocols.
Thursday, Sept. 21: At 10:16 am the business owner reported an unknown male had emptied a trash can at the Washing Well laundromat. The male had tossed the trash around causing a mess. The officer is working to identify the male. At 1:55 pm a complainant reported a suspected assault having occurred in the 1300 block of W. Lincoln Way. The officer is investigating this report. While taking the report the officer learned the complainant had driven to the Law Enforcement Center. The officer found the complainant’s driver’s license is suspended. The officer cited the driver for driving while license suspended. At 7:57 pm a complainant reported having caught a loose cat on his property in the 700 block of W. Lincoln Way. He reported the cat was wearing a collar, but he didn’t know the owner. The officer picked up the cat and took it to the animal shelter. At 8:12 pm a complainant reported a stray cat on her property in the 600 block of W. State St. She reported the cat was aggressive and had bitten a juvenile. The juvenile was not injured. The officer transported the cat to the animal shelter. The cat was able to get away from the officer before being placed in a cage.
Wednesday, Sept. 20: At 10:38 am a complainant reported a car on fire in the parking lot at Casey’s General Store. The officer assisted the Jefferson fire department while the fire was extinguished. The 2013 Kia Soul was considered to be a total loss. The owner’s name was not provided. At 1:42 pm a complainant reported a person burning items other than yard waste in the 500 block of N. Wilson Ave. The officer located the burn and advised the person tending it that only yard waste can be burned in Jefferson and that Greene County is currently under a burn ban. At 6:34 pm an officer performed a traffic stop in the 600 block of E. Lincoln Way. Terence Bingley of Jefferson was cited for driving while license suspended and then arrested on an active Greene County warrant for possession of marijuana*.
Tuesday, Sept. 19: At 1:40 pm a complainant reported a fallen tree blocking the roadway in the 200 block of S. Maple St. The officer provided traffic control until the city crew removed the tree.
Monday, Sept. 18: At 12:35 am an officer performed a traffic stop in the 500 block of N. Elm St. As a result of the traffic stop, William Joseph Weis of Council Bluffs was arrested for driving while license barred*. He was cited for violation of financial liability coverage. At 11:47 am a complainant reported finding toilet paper in his yard related to juveniles out the night before. He requested the police department work to end the activity.
Sunday, Sept. 17: Routine activity reported. ***** As a result of an investigation started on 9/07, warrants have been requested for Jennifer Brown of Jefferson and Kyann Carissa Brown of Jefferson for disorderly conduct- simple*.
Saturday, Sept. 16: At 12:01 am an employee of Wild Rose Casino reported a possibly intoxicated patron who had entered a vehicle in the parking lot. The officer located the male in the parking lot. As a result of the investigation, Diego Corio Cobo of Minnesota was placed under arrest for public intoxication and open container*. At 10:20 am Greene County dispatch received several fraudulent 911 calls from juveniles coming from a residence in the 600 block of W. Lincoln Way. The officer located those making the calls and spoke with their parents. They were warned for the improper use of 911. At 1:28 pm a complainant reported an opossum in his garage in the 500 block of W. State St. The officer assisted the complainant in chasing the animal out of the garage. At 6:03 pm a complainant reported having caught what she believed to be a rattle snake in the 900 block of W. S. St. The officer advised her to contact pest control or the DNR. At 6:19 pm a complainant reported an assault. It was later found the assault had not occurred in Jefferson and she was referred to the proper jurisdiction.
Friday, Sept. 15: At 6:34 am a complainant reported a deer in the roadway in the 1200 block of S. Elm St. The officer removed the deer from the roadway. At 11:29 am a complainant reported a theft of tools from a residence in the 600 block of W. State St. The officer is investigating. At 6:17 pm a complainant reported a house fire in the 500 block of W. State St. The officer provided traffic control while the Jefferson fire department extinguished the fire.
Thursday, Sept. 14: At 11:22 pm staff at Greene County High School requested an officer at the school to document a physical fight, which had occurred between two students. Staff were not supportive of a criminal investigation, just documentation. At 12:23 pm staff at Greene County Middle School requested an officer after an assault had occurred between two students. The officer documented information and the school is handling punishment. At 1:31 pm a complainant reported a driver had lost control of their vehicle near W. Lincoln Way and Elm St and came to rest in the grass at the community center. The officer determined several steering components had broken and fallen from the vehicle. It was towed from the area a short time later. At 4:59 pm officers responded to a bicycle vs vehicle accident at W. Adams and N. Elm St. Adam Smith was eastbound on Adams driving his 2010 Chevrolet Silverado. He stopped at the posted stop sign at Elm St, behind the crosswalk. He looked both directions and then proceeded to pull onto Elm. Richard Burkhardt, riding a bicycle, struck the front end of Smith’s vehicle. Burkhardt suffered minor injuries, but refused an ambulance to check him out. Witnesses to the accident advise that Burkhardt entered the sidewalk from the parking lot at A & W and rode towards the truck fast. They advised that Burkhardt struck the side of the truck and began to curse at the driver. The truck had a reported $50 in damages. The bicycle was reported to not be damaged. No citations issued.
Wednesday, Sept. 13: At 8:07 am officers investigated a hit-and-run accident near N. Elm and Central Ave. Melissa Agan of Gowrie was southbound in the outside lane of N. Elm driving her 2008 GMC Arcadia. A semi with a side dump trailer attempted to change lanes near Central Ave. and struck the Agan vehicle. The semi driver did not stop. The officer located the rig, a 2018 WANC owned by Don Hummer Trucking of Cedar Rapids with a trailer owned by Wearda Farms of Cedar Rapids. The unit was operated by Duane Christian of Webster City. Christian was cited for improper lane change. Damage to Agan’s vehicle was estimated at $2,000. There was no damage to the semi-trailer. At 8:38 am officers investigated an accident in the 200 block of E. Adams St. Amy Baugh of Jefferson was eastbound on Adams driving a 2013 Buick Enclave owned by Daryl Luther of Grand Junction. Baugh struck the rear of a parked 2012 Bravo trailer owned by John Beals of Johnston. Baugh told the officer the sun was in her eyes and she didn’t see the trailer. She was cited for fail to maintain control. Damage to the Enclave was estimated at $800. Damage to the trailer was estimated at $1,000. At 6:33 pm a complainant reported two drivers heading toward Jefferson on N Ave who appeared to be racing each other. The officer located the vehicles and performed a traffic stop with the drivers. The officer spoke to them about the reported complaint.
Tuesday, Sept. 12: At 8:45 am a complainant reported ashes falling on his garage in the 600 block of S. Cedar St. The officer located a burn occurring at a residence in the 500 block of S. Olive St. No one was home at that residence. The officer is working to follow up with the subject about the burn ban being in effect. At 9:02 am a complainant reported a possibly injured dog in the 100 block of N. Wilson Ave. The officer took the animal to Fairview Vet Clinic. Staff there recognized the animal. The owner was contacted to come to pick up the animal.
Monday, Sept. 11: At 7:44 am a complainant reported a stray dog in the 100 block of W. Vest St. The officer placed the dog in impound. The officer later cited Eric Chrystal animal at large. At 8:33 am a resident reported a missing female juvenile was found at her residence in the 300 block of E. State St. The officer took the juvenile to the jail to be picked up by her father. She was reported as missing last week in Clark County. The officer advised them she had been located and was safe. At 7:57 pm a complainant reported children playing in the street near E. Lincoln Way and Cedar St. The officer located a group of youngsters in the area and spoke to them about the dangers of playing in the street.
Sunday, Sept. 10: At 12:25 pm a complainant advised of a possible no contact order violation. The officer learned it occurred in Scranton and passed the information to a deputy to investigate. At 2:13 pm officers investigated a backing accident in the 300 block of W. Washington St. Britleigh Hamann of Jefferson was eastbound driving a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck owned by Brian Mobley. Hamann stopped at the posted stop sign at Washington and Elm Sts. She advised she felt she was too far past the stop sign and backed up. She struck the front end of a vehicle behind her, a 2009 Chevrolet Impala owned by Robert Egland of Jefferson and operated by Allison Platte of Waukee. Hamann was cited for unsafe backing. Damage to the vehicle she was driving was estimated at $50. Damage to the Impala was estimated at $500.
Saturday, Sept. 9: At 7:31 am a complainant requested officers near Park and S. Vine Sts. He reported he was assaulted by a known male in the area. He advised the subject struck him in the face a few times and left the area. He named the subject and pointed his house out to officers. The officers spoke to several witnesses in Russell Park, who advised they witnessed the event occur as the complainant had advised. The officer went to the residence indicated and arrested Royce Christoher Gonnelly, 32, of Jefferson for harassment- first degree (aggravated), assault causing bodily injury (serious misdemeanor) and driving while license revoked (serious misdemeanor)*. Greene County Ambulance was called to check the complainant’s injuries. At 8:12 am a complainant reported an overnight burglary to her garage in the 700 block of N. Chestnut St. Suspect(s) had broken a padlock off of a walk-in door to the garage. Nothing was reported missing from the garage. The officer is investigating. At 4:18 pm a caller reported an open burn in the 1200 block of Rushridge Rd. The officer located the burn and spoke to the owner, who was unaware of the current burn ban. At 6:45 pm a caller advised of an open burn in the 300 block of Edgewood Ave. The officers spoke to the subject, who was unaware of the current burn ban. The officer explained what can and can not be burned after the ban is lifted.
Friday, Sept. 8: At 7:32 am a caller advised of a male in a black car yelling at women in the 600 block of W. Lincoln Way. The officers did not locate the reported vehicle but identified the driver. At 11 am a subject brought to the jail a stray dog he had located near S. Chestnut and E. Monroe Sts. The officers placed the dog in impound.
Thursday, Sept. 7: At 10:15 am a complainant reported someone had opened a Verizon Wireless account in his name without his permission. The officer is investigating. At 10:35 am an officer was contacted by HyVee security officials and began working on a series of thefts at the store. At 11:12 am a complainant reported a strong odor in the 600 block of N. Olive St. The officer contacted public works employees after determining the odor was coming from a street water Intake. They determined there was no danger to the public and are going to attempt to determine what the issue is and correct it. At 5:05 pm a complainant reported a neighbor burning brush in a burn barrel in the 100 block of E. Perry St. The officer spoke to the property owner, who was unaware of Greene County being in a burn ban. He advised he would not burn anything further. At 7:56 pm officers were requested at a residence in the 500 block of W. Mahlon St for a civil child custody issue. A group of subjects were present and the caller reported an assault had occurred. The officers and a deputy spoke to all parties involved in the situation. The Greene County Ambulance was called to check a female with a head injury. The officers separated all parties and are continuing to investigate. Charges are pending for several subjects involved.
Wednesday, Sept. 6: At 9:44 am the Clark County sheriff’s office requested an officer check a residence in Jefferson for a juvenile run away from their county. The juvenile was not located in Jefferson. At 3:18 pm a complainant reported finding a dog dragging a leash in the 500 block of S. Maple St. The officer placed the dog in impound. At 5:41 pm a male subject reported he befriended a female on SnapChat. She requested inappropriate photos from him, which he sent her. She is now demanding money from him, or she will share his photos with his Friend list. The is an untraceable scam occurring more frequently in the past year. He was advised to block the subject and not accept friend requests from someone he does not know.
Tuesday, Sept. 5: At 5:16 am a caller advised of a dead deer in the roadway near Westwood and Briarwood. The officer removed the animal from the roadway. At 7:55 am a complainant reported a two-vehicle accident at E. Harrison and S. Locust Sts. He advised that both vehicles left the scene. The officer learned that the subjects involved had exchanged information and did not want assistance from the officer. At 7:57 am officers investigated an accident near N. Elm St and Hwy 30. Lynn Smith of Bayard was northbound on Elm operating a 2023 Freightliner semi tractor-trailer owned by New Cooperative. Adrianna Rivera of Scranton was also northbound, driving a 2015 Chevrolet Impala owned by David Rivera. Smith attempted to merge into the other lane and struck the Rivera vehicle. Smith was cited for improper use of lane. Both vehicles were damaged. At 8:16 am several calls came in about confusion at the construction sites on Hwy 30 thru Jefferson. The officer contacted the DOT about the issues. At 1:03 pm officers investigated a backing accident at Regency Park. Andrew Rohan of Fort Dodge was backing a 2019 Rockport truck owned by Matrix Inc of Humbolt in the private parking lot and struck a parked 2016 Ram 4500 owned by Cummins Inc of Des Moines. Damage to each vehicle was estimated at $100. At 8:12 pm an officer investigated a backing accident at Lincoln Way and Wilson Ave. Jeremy Collings of Delta was eastbound on Lincoln Way operating a 2019 Kenworth T880 owned by Manatts Inc of Brooklyn. The road was blocked for an event. Collings attempted to back out of the area but struck a vehicle behind him, a 2011 Honda Pilot owned and operated by Suzanne Krieger-Mjolsness of Nevada. There was no damage to the truck. Damage to Krieger-Mjolsness’ vehicle was estimated at $1,000.
Monday, Sept. 4: At 2:42 pman officer began an investigation of an alleged sex assault involving a 13-year-old Jefferson female. At 5:05 pm an officer investigated a backing accident in the parking lot at Sparky’s One-Stop. Christopher Olsem of Ames backed his 2020 Chevrolet Camaro into a parked 2010 Toyota Corolla owned by Katrina Marek of Ames. Damage to the Marek vehicle was estimated at $200. Damage to the Olsem vehicle was estimated at $500. At 6:11 pm a complainant reported that as he was traveling in the 500 block of S. Cedar St his back window shattered. The officer did not believe anything had struck the window, and assumed the break was due to the high temperature. At 6:49 pm an officer located a subject for whom there is an outstanding Webster County warrant fishing at Henderson Park. Webster County declined to extradite the subject and he was allowed to go on his way. At 9:15 pm during a traffic stop in the 1400 block of N. Elm St the officer could smell the pungent odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. During a probable cause search, the officer located marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia. The items were seized for testing with charges pending lab results.
Sunday, Sept. 3: Routine activity reported.
Saturday, Sept. 2: At 5:04 pm a complainant caught a stray dog near S. Elm and W. Vest Sts. The officer placed the dog in impound. At 9:48 pm the sheriff requested an officer locate a driver heading toward Jefferson on Hwy 30 as the driver had driven through an accident scene at Hwys 30 and 144 at Grand Junction. The officer located the vehicle and performed a traffic stop. The officer cited Christina Vinchattle of Boone for fail to yield to emergency vehicle and fail to provide proof of financial liability.
Friday, Sept. 1: At 7:56 am a complainant brought two stray dogs to the animal shelter he had found near 2055 R Ave. The officer placed them in runs in the facility. At 3:07 pm a complainant reported a possible violation of a no contact order. The officer is investigating. At 3:24 pm a deputy requested an officer to watch Hwy 30 for a semi that was involved in an accident near 235th St and Parkland Ave in Grant Township. The officer did not locate the reported semi.
*All charges are merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
