Sheriff’s report – August 2025

Following are excerpts of daily activities reported by the Greene County sheriff’s office:

Saturday, Aug. 30: At 10:54 am a deputy investigated a dog bite in the 400 block of S. 15th St in Grand Junction. At 12:14 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 700 block of Walnut St in Scranton. At 12:53 pm a deputy investigated a scam in the 100 block of Main St in Cooper. At 7:01 pm a deputy, Churdan Fire and Rescue, Greene County Ambulance, and Lohrville EMS responded to a UTV accident in the 100 block of 120th St in Cedar Township. Madison Orr of Alabama was driving the UTV and rounded a corner too fast and rolled the UTV. There were two other occupants; one was trapped under the UTV. All three were taken to the Lake City ER with injuries. At 11:09 pm a deputy assisted with cattle out on HWY 30 and W Ave east of Grand Junction.

Friday, Aug. 29: At 12:31 am a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 11:03 am a deputy investigated a domestic call in the 800 block of Percival St in Grand Junction.

Thursday, Aug. 28: At 6:45 am the Greene County sheriff’s office assisted by the Carroll County sheriff’s office conducted a search warrant in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. Suspected controlled substances were located. Melissa Dopheide, 43, of Scranton was arrested on a warrant for a violation of probation*. Other charges related to the search are pending lab results. She was later booked into the jail on the violation of probation charge. At 8:09 am the sheriff’s office conducted a search warrant in the 1000 block of H Ave in Bristol Township. Electronic devices were seized. Charges are pending. At 9:26 am a deputy investigated two thefts of gasoline at the Paton Pit Stop. At 9:50 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a barking dog in the 300 block of S. 8th St in Grand Junction.

Wednesday, Aug. 27: At 12:53 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a dog at the school bus stop in Scranton.

Tuesday, Aug. 26: At 4:51 pm a deputy assisted with a semi stuck on the railroad tracks on X Ave near Hwy 30 east of Grand Junction. At 5:24 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 600 block of E. Hager St in Grand Junction. At 10:16 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 500 block of E. Hager St in Grand Junction.

Monday, Aug. 25: At 1:31 am a deputy investigated a domestic complaint in the 1900 block of 210th St in Junction Township. At 6:42 am a deputy investigated a complaint of child neglect in the 900 block of 8th St in Scranton. At 10:45 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 500 block of E. Main St in Grand Junction.  At 10:55 am a deputy investigated a two-vehicle accident on V Ave near 250th St in Junction Township. Nicholas Pfundheller of Boone was operating a 2022 Dodge Ram and rear-ended a northbound Greene County maintainer operated by Larry Silbaugh of Jefferson. There were no injuries. Pfundheller was cited for failure to stop in a safe and clear distance. Damage to his pickup truck was estimated at $5,000. Damage to the maintainer was estimated at $1,500.

Sunday, Aug. 24: At 12 am a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief in the 500 block of E. Main St in Grand Junction. At 1:22 am Erick Ramos-Rivera, 36, of Jefferson was booked into the jail on a charge of operating while intoxicated*.

Saturday, Aug. 23: At 2:39 am a deputy investigated a complaint of domestic assault in the 1000 block of W Ave in Junction Township. Jeffrey Van Pelt, 52, of Grand Junction was arrested on a charge of assault causing bodily injury*. He was later booked into the county jail. At 5:06 am a deputy and Grand Junction Rescue responded to a single-vehicle rollover accident on 110th St near T Ave in Paton Township . Mandy Cox of Paton lost control of a 2021 Lincoln Aviator. The estimated damage to the vehicle is $8,000. At 8:26 am a deputy assisted with a cow out on 22nd St and P Ave in Grant Township. At 12:47 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a vicious dog in the 900 block of Irving St in Scranton. At 2:56 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson police department with a search warrant in the 300 block of W. Greenwood Rd in Jefferson. At 6:07 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment at Spring Lake Park. At 7:25 pm a deputy investigated an assault in the 600 block of Sand St in Churdan.

Friday, Aug. 22: At 12:04 am a deputy investigated a complaint of burning in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 4:09 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 500 block of N. 16th St in Grand Junction.

Thursday, Aug. 21: At 7:07 am a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 500 block of N. 16th St in Grand Junction. At 12:31 pm a deputy arrested Melissa Dopheide, 43, of Scranton on charges of disorderly conduct and assault*. Andrew Wempe, 42, of Scranton was arrested on charges of harassment- first  degree and disorderly conduct*. Both were arrested in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. They were later booked into the county jail on the charges. At 12:43 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 600 block of Hager St in Grand Junction. At 5:20 pm a deputy investigated a domestic assault in the 800 block of E. Hager St in Grand Junction. Travis Stanek, 33, of Grand Junction was arrested for domestic abuse assault- choking with bodily injury*. He was later booked into the county jail. At 5:59 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 600 block of Brentwood Ave in Cedar Township. At 7:16 pm Dausin Olberding, 22, of Pella was booked into the jail for a violation of probation*. At 7:56 pm a deputy investigated a scam in the 1500 block of P Ave in Grant Township.

Wednesday, Aug. 20: At 3:18 pm Roger Ketchum, 37, of Jefferson was booked into the jail for a probation violation*. At 6:30 pm a deputy investigated a backing accident on W Ave near 170th St in Junction Township. Patricia Powell of Paton was driving a 2015 Buick Verano on W Ave. Omar Prieto of Ames backed into Powell. He was cited for unsafe backing. Damage to his 2017 GMC Sierra 3500 was estimated at $2,000. Damage to Powell’s vehicle was estimated at $4,000.

Tuesday, Aug. 19: At 9:56 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton.

Monday, Aug. 18: At 10:09 am a deputy investigated a possible violation of a no contact order in the 1200 block of W Ave in Junction Township. At 10:25 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 400 block of Harding St in Churdan. At 4:46 pm Brandy Burrow, 30, of Jefferson was booked into the jail on a charge of theft- fifth degree*. At 5:06 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 600 block of Brentwood Ave in Cedar Township. At 8:02 pm a deputy assisted with cattle out in the 1600 block of 243rd St in Grant Township.

Sunday, Aug. 17: At 6:15 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Locust St in Scranton. At 6:17 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 600 block of Brentwood Ave in Cedar Township. At 11:31 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 700 block of Bell St in Churdan.

Saturday, Aug. 16: At 7:02 am a deputy investigated a harassment complaint in the 500 block of North 16^th Street, Grand Junction. 11:43 am a deputy investigated a criminal mischief complaint in the 800 block of Head St in Churdan. At 12:54 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a dog running at large in the 600 block of Hill St in Churdan.  At 9:59 pm a deputy investigated a noise complaint in the 1300 block of 100th Street in Dawson Township.

Friday, Aug. 15: At 10:31 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 100 block of Percival St in Rippey. At 1:23 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief in the 100 block of N. Park St in Paton. At 5:37 pm a deputy, Jefferson PD, Jefferson Fire and Greene County Ambulance responded to a structure fire in the 400 block of E. State St in Jefferson. The fire was caused by plastic on the stove. There was minor damage to the kitchen and smoke damage throughout the house.

Thursday, Aug. 14: At 8:12 am the Jefferson PD and the sheriff’s office conducted a search warrant in the 1000 block of W. Adams St in Jefferson. At 9:11 am a deputy removed a deer from the roadway on D Ave near 182nd St in Kendrick Township. At 10:29 am a deputy investigated suspicious activity in the 1600 block of N Ave south of Jefferson. At 3:03 pm the Jefferson PD and the sheriff’s office conducted a search warrant in the 1000 block of W. Adams St in Jefferson. At 6 pm Joseph Nunez, 57, of Jefferson was booked into the jail on a charge of domestic abuse assault- third offense*.

Wednesday, Aug. 13: At 5:29 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 700 block of Main St, Scranton. At 8:52 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 800 block of Percival St, Grand Junction.

Tuesday, Aug. 12: At 1:22 am a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief  in the 700 block of Madison St in Scranton. At 5:13 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment at Hyde Park. At 8:19 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 700 block of Walnut St in Scranton.

Monday, Aug. 11: At 12:50 am a deputy investigated suspicious activity in the 300 block of Jay St in Churdan. At 2:19 am a deputy and the Jefferson Fire Department responded to a rekindle in the 700 block of L Ave in Bristol Township. At 9:21 am a deputy investigated suspicious activity in the 500 block of N. 16th St in Grand Junction. At 3:25 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 400 block of E. Paton St in Paton. At 3:33 pm a deputy investigated a burglary in the 1000 block of Head St in Churdan. At 4:33 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 200 block of Hill St in Churdan. At 5:30 pm a deputy assisted Iowa Health and Human Services staff with removal of a child in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 6:26 pm a deputy investigated an anhydrous leak in the 400 block of Percival St in Rippey. At 7:50 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of P Ave in Hardin Township. At 8:21 pm a deputy assisted with cattle out in the 1400 block of Parkland Ave in Grant Township. At 9:39 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 600 block of 290th St in Willow Township.

Sunday, Aug. 10: At 3:06 pm a deputy, Jefferson fire department, Churdan fire department, and Greene County EMS responded to a house fire in the 700 block of L Ave in Bristol Township. The house was a total loss. The cause of the fire was lightning. At 4:24 pm a deputy investigated a burglary in the 1000 block of Head St in Churdan. At 5:03 pm a deputy assisted with a cow out on 270th St near A Ave in Willow Township.

Saturday, Aug. 9: At 7:54 am a deputy investigated a burglary in the 200 block of S. 9th St in Grand Junction. At 8:56 am a deputy assisted with cattle out in the 2400 block of Quest Ave in Franklin Township. At 6:52 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton.

Friday, Aug. 8: At 6:05 am a deputy investigated a car-deer accident on Hwy 30 at J Ave west of Jefferson. Galan Rios of Denison struck a deer with a 2006 Grand Cherokee, causing an estimated $5,000 dollars to the vehicle. At 6:37 am the sheriff, deputies, Grand Junction Fire and Rescue, and Greene County Ambulance responded to a single vehicle accident on U Ave near 215th St north of Grand Junction. Kelly Beaman of Grand Junction lost control of a 1984 Honda VF1100 motorcycle. Beaman was transported the Greene County Medical Center with injuries. He was cited for no motorcycle license. The motorcycle was totaled in the accident. At 1:09 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 600 block of State St in Scranton. At 5:59 pm a deputy investigated suspicious activity in the 200 block of S. 9th St in Grand Junction. At 6:19 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 300 block of D Ave in Cedar Township. At 8:41 pm Roger Ketchum, 37, of Jefferson was booked into the jail on charges of interference with official acts and assault causing bodily injury*.

Thursday, Aug. 7: At 12:22 pm a deputy assisted with a donkey on the roadway in the 1500 block of U Ave south of Grand Junction. At 12:59 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 700 block of Walnut St in Scranton. At 2:18 pm Ethan Struck, 24, of Shenandoah was booked into the jail for a probation violation*. At 3:54 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 500 block of S. Main St in Paton. At 5:58 pm a deputy assisted with goats on the roadway in the 1800 block of 195th St in Hardin Township.

Wednesday, Aug. 6: At 9:35 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 700 block of Walnut St in Scranton. At 1:04 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a vicious goose in the 300 block of S. 7th St, Grand Junction. At 7:49 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton.

Tuesday, Aug. 5: At 10:26 am a deputy investigated a theft in the 2000 block of 280th St in Washington Township. At 12:57 pm the sheriff investigated a complaint of a semi stuck on the railroad crossing at X Ave east of Grand Junction. At 4:45 pm a deputy investigated an abandoned vehicle on W Ave near 250th St in Junction Township. At 5:26 pm a deputy took a report of a goose and a duck in the street in the 300 block of S. 8th St in Grand Junction. At 5:39 pm the sheriff and deputies conducted a search of a residence in the 1000 block of Sand St in Churdan. Jay Orsack, 57, of Churdan was arrested on charges of drug trafficking 5 gms – 100 kgs of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance*. He was later booked into the jail on the charges.

Monday, Aug. 4: At 8:10 am a deputy investigated a theft on N Ave near 110th St in Dawson Township. At 9:12 am a deputy investigated a theft in the 800 block of Jay St in Churdan. At 12:46 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of trespass in the 1100 block of Maple St in Scranton. At 1:45 pm April Steil, 45, of Des Moines was booked into the jail for theft-  4th degree and failure to appear*. At 7:17 pm a deputy assisted with cattle out on Hwy 144 near 250th St south of Grand Junction. At 8:40 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 11:28 pm a deputy investigated a car-cow accident on 330th St near C Ave in Willow Township. Eyezayah Scheuermann of Jefferson struck three cows that were on the roadway. Damage to the 2012 Dodge 2500 pickup truck Scheuermann was operating was estimated at $8,000. At 11:32 pm Candi Wenger, 35, of Scranton was booked into the jail on a charge of driving while license barred*.

Sunday, Aug. 3: At 6:41 am a deputy investigated a complaint of a barking dog in the 300 block of S. 8th St in Grand Junction. At 2:38 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 7:21 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a domestic assault in the 200 block of S. 7th St in Grand Junction.

Saturday, Aug. 2: At 7:18 am a deputy assisted with cattle out on 305th St and Q Ave in Franklin Township.  At 8:14 am a deputy assisted with cattle out on 280th St near W Ave in Washington Township. At 8:01 pm a deputy investigated a car-deer accident on U Avenue near 1st St in Rippey. Evangeline Lo of Carroll struck a deer with a 2011 Toyota 4 Runner causing an estimated $2,500 in damage to the vehicle.

Friday, Aug. 1: At 9:57 am a deputy assisted the Carroll County sheriff’s office with locating a subject in the 500 block of Bell St in Churdan. At 2:09 pm a deputy investigated a suspicious person in the 500 block of S. Main St in Paton. At 6:03 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 900 block of Cedar St in Scranton. At 7:58 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief in the 900 block of Grant St in Scranton. At 11:15 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of a dog running at large in the 500 block of S. 9th St in Grand Junction.

In all cases when a defendant has been charged, this is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.