Sheriff’s report – March 2023

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

Friday, March 31: At 9:57 am the sheriff’s office and an Iowa State Trooper conducted a search warrant at 601 S. 13th St in Grand Junction. Suspected controlled substances and drug paraphernalia were seized. Charges are pending lab results.

Thursday, March 30: At 4:12 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of dirt bikes being ridden on conservation ground near McMahon Access.

Wednesday, March 29: At 10:47 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with the arrest of two individuals.

Tuesday, March 28: At 8:10 pm a deputy investigated a car-deer accident on A Ave near 250th St in Scranton Township. Jason Mauch, 51, of Scranton struck a deer with a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox. Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $6,000.

Monday, March 27: At 5:38 am a deputy notified the Union Pacific railroad of a malfunctioning crossing arm on S Ave near Hwy 30. At 9:16 am a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief at the Grand Junction city park.

Sunday, March 26: At 1:11 am a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with a noise complaint in the 300 block of N. Wilson Ave.

Saturday, March 25: At 2:44 pm a deputy investigated an eagle that was struck by a vehicle. The DNR came and took the deceased eagle. At 5:15 pm a deputy and the Jefferson fire department responded to a small building fire in the 1100 block of 245th St in Jackson Township. The cause was controlled ditch burn that got out of control.

Friday, March 24: At 7:03 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 700 block of Madison St in Scranton. At 3:14 pm a deputy and the Jefferson fire department responded to a controlled burn that got out of control in the 800 block of Q Ave in Grant Township. The were no buildings damaged.

Thursday, March 23: At 7 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with trying to locate a missing person. At 8:52 pm a deputy investigated a car-deer accident on Hwy 4 near 330th St in Franklin Township. Aaron Wignall, 54, of Ankeny struck a deer with a 2015 GMC Sierra, causing an estimated $3,000 damage to the vehicle.

Wednesday, March 22: At 9:56 am a deputy assisted with cattle out in the 300 block of 310th St in Willow Township. At 10:10 am a deputy and Jefferson fire responded to a vehicle fire in the 1900 block of J Ave in Greenbrier Township. The truck was being torn apart for scrap and caught fire. There was no other damage. At 5:05 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 300 block of S. 7th St in Grand Junction. At 9:17 pm a deputy investigated a car-deer accident on 140th Street near J Ave in Highland Township. Paul Russell, 43, of Jefferson struck a deer with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Tuesday, March 21: At 3:58 am a deputy removed a deer from the roadway on Kirkwood at L Ave in Jackson Township. At 3:12 pm a deputy investigated a two-vehicle accident on 150th St and N Ave in Highland Township. Gary Betts, 71, of Jefferson was northbound on N Ave driving a 2006 Peterbilt semi tractor-trailer. Adam Schmit, 43, of Rockwell City was following Betts driving a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe. Betts slowed to turn east onto 150th St. Schmit told the deputy he dropped a cigarette and didn’t see that Betts was turning. Schmit swerved to the east, striking the front passenger side bumper on the semi, and then continuing into the ditch. There were no injuries. Schmit was cited for failure to maintain control and operating a non-registered vehicle. Damage to his vehicle was estimated at $6,000. Damage to the semi tractor was estimated at $2,500. At 5:19 pm a deputy and firefighters from Rippey, Perry, Dawson, Yale, Jefferson and Bouton responded to 2302 U Ave in Washington Township for a structure fire. A barn, garage, shed, camper and several vehicles were lost in the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown.  

Monday, March 20: At 2:24 pm a deputy arrested Alex Treft, 31, of Grand Junction on Main St in Grand Junction for driving while license barred*. At 2:28 pm the sheriff and deputies were assisted by the Shelby County sheriff’s office, Guthrie County sheriff’s office, and the Audubon County sheriff’s office in locating a runaway. The runaway was located in Adair. At 2:43 pm a deputy investigated an assault that occurred in Grand Junction and Ogden. At 3:27 pm the Paton and Churdan fire departments responded to a outbuilding fire in the 1400 block of 110th St in Dawson Township. At 6:29 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with locating youngsters who were knocking on doors and windows near S. West St and W. Madison St.

Sunday, March 19: Routine activity reported.

Saturday, March 18: At 7:25 am a deputy picked up a stray dog in the 1000 block of Lincoln St in Scranton. At 8:40 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with an unruly patron at Cobblestone Hotel.

Friday, March 17: At 5:46 pm a deputy investigated an assault in the 700 block of School St in Churdan.

Thursday, March 16: At 2:03 am a deputy investigated a car-deer accident in the 700 block of 220th St east of Scranton. Dustin Owens, 30, of Jefferson struck a deer with a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, causing an estimated $1,000 damage to the vehicle.

Wednesday, March 15: At 9:12 am a deputy, Greene County Ambulance, and Scranton fire responded to a two-vehicle accident on G Ave and 250th St in Scranton Township. Randy Hedges, 70, of Jefferson was eastbound on 250th St in a 2021 Jeep Wrangler. Edwin Morales Lopez, 24, of Carroll was southbound on G Ave in a 2006 Buick Lucerne. Lopez failed to yield of way and struck Hedges’ vehicle in the driver’s side door. There were no injuries. Damage to Hedges’ vehicle is estimated at $12,000. Damage to Morales Lopez’s vehicle exceeds value. Morales Lopez also struck a utility pole, causing a power line to come down. Cost to repair the pole and power line is estimated at $5,000. Morales Lopez was cited for no valid driver’s license and failure to yield the right of way. At 1:59 pm a deputy investigated a theft in the 800 block of Eagle St in Scranton.

Tuesday, March 14: At 6:59 pm a deputy assisted with cattle out on W Avenue near 260th St in Washington Township. At 7:28 pm a deputy assisted the Stuart police department with locating a subject in Rippey.

Monday, March 13: At 7:57 pm the Greene County sheriff’s office, Jefferson PD, and the Iowa State Patrol conducted search warrants at 203 S. Grimmell Rd, 706 W. Madison St, and 304 S. Walnut St in Jefferson in an attempt to locate Olvin Aguilar Flores of Jefferson, for whom there are Greene County arrest warrants for sex abuse- second degree*.

Sunday, March 12: At 1:55 pm a deputy assisted a motorist on Hwy 30 at R Ave east of Jefferson. Saribel Ornnelas, 19, of Deloit lost control of her 2013 Dodge Dart and went into the south ditch. There was no damage to the vehicle. At 4:05 pm a deputy removed a deer from the roadway in the 200 block of 130th St in Cedar Township.

Saturday, March 11: At 7:07 am a deputy assisted the Carroll County sheriff’s office with attempting to locate a runaway near Scranton. At 10:16 am a deputy contacted the Union Pacific railroad about an unsecured load on a train car that was falling off. At 1:31 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson Police Department with a search warrant in the 100 block of E. Washington St in Jefferson. At 3:12 pm a deputy, Greene County Ambulance, and Grand Junction Rescue investigated a single-vehicle accident on U Ave near 310th St in Washington Township. Shelby Messner, 29, of Perry was southbound on U Ave driving a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck. Messner lost control of the truck and entered the east ditch, rolling once. Messner was extricated from the truck and transported to the Dallas County Hospital with minor injuries. Messner had a 4-year-old child in the truck also and they were not injured. The truck was a total loss.

Friday, March 10: At 1:11 am a deputy investigated a complaint of harassment in the 300 block of Irving St in Scranton.

Thursday, March 9: Routine activity reported.

Wednesday, March 8: At 2:19 am a deputy investigated a complaint of illegal dumping on 290th St near I Ave in Greenbrier Township. At 9:07 am a deputy assisted the city of Scranton with serving a court order in the 900 block of Eagle St.

Tuesday, March 7: At 10:25 am a deputy investigated a complaint of criminal mischief in the 300 block of N. 5th St in Grand Junction. At 6:49 pm the  sheriff and deputies assisted the Boone County sheriff’s office with a complaint of a road rage incident with a firearm. The driver was stopped on Hwy 30 near 18th St in Grand Junction. No weapon was found. At 7:21 pm the sheriff investigated a single-vehicle accident in the 1100 block of R Ave in Hardin Township. James Timmons, 43, of Jefferson was southbound on R Ave driving a 2001 Ford F250 pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer.. A deer ran out in front of the vehicle. Timmons lost control of the vehicle and entered the east ditch, striking three trees. Timmons was transported the Greene County Medical Center with minor injuries by private vehicle.  The truck was a total loss. The trailer had damage to a tail light. Damage to the fence was estimated at $300.

Monday, March 6: At 12:55 am a deputy investigated a missing person complaint in the 1100 block of Eaton Ave in Scranton Township. At 11:12 am a deputy investigated a suspected burglary in the 800 block of Lincoln St in Scranton. At 3:28 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of animal neglect in the 1700 block of J Ave in Jackson Township. At 5:26 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of kids fighting at the Grand Junction City park near Elizabeth St in Grand Junction.

Sunday, March 5: At 1:24 pm a deputy investigated an animal complaint in the 800 block of Sand St in Churdan. At 5:44 pm a deputy assisted the Jefferson PD with a theft at Oly’s Corner. At 7:06 pm a deputy investigated complaint of gun shots in the 500 block of S. 11th St in Grand Junction.

Saturday, March 4: At 3:32 am a deputy assisted the Guthrie County sheriff’s office with locating a driver that fled from an accident. The Jefferson Police Department located the driver and vehicle. At 1:52 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of debris on the roadway on W Ave near 250th St in Junction Township. The debris was already moved when the deputy arrived.

Friday, March 3: At 9:30 am a deputy assisted the city of Scranton with a court order in the 600 block of Lincoln St in Scranton. At 12:03 pm a deputy investigated a complaint of found drug paraphernalia in the 300 block of Main St in Rippey.

Thursday, March 2: At 12:06 pm a deputy investigated a reported violation of a no contact order in the 400 block of E. Paton St in Paton. At 4:16 pm a deputy investigated a single vehicle accident on Hwy 144 near 140th St in Paton Township. Roger Gast, 66, of Nebraska was operating a 2023 Freight Liner semi tractor-trailer when he dropped the semi off of the roadway onto the shoulder of the road. The semi spun 180 degrees and stopped with the trailer in the ditch. Neither the semi nor the trailer were damaged, but a mailbox did sustain damage.

Wednesday, March 1: Routine activity reported.

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

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