Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a case of arson. According to officials, Officers with the Council Bluffs Police Department and Firefighters were called to 906 25th Avenue at around 4:36-a.m. today (Saturday) for a vehicle fire. The victim, Eugenia Dierks, advised that she heard noises outside her residence and had asked a family member, Wendell Parrott, to see what was going on outside.

After he observed a broken window on the woman’s 1993 Chevy Suburban, which was parked on the street, and smoke coming from inside the vehicle, Parrott told Dierks to call 911 right away. Parrott was able to remove an incendiary device from the cab of the vehicle, which sustained minor damage.

The incident was being investigated by the Council Bluffs Fire department as a case of Arson in the 2nd Degree.

An investigation into a break-in at a fire department in Guthrie County that began about a month ago, resulted in the execution of a search warrant and the arrest of three people on multiple stolen property and drug-related charges, including multiple felonies. The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office said Friday, deputies searched a home at 204 1st Avenue in Bagley, on July 15th, following an investigation into a break-in reported by the Bagley Fire Department.

It’s not clear when the break-in occurred, but during the theft, one of the department’s credit cards was stolen and used to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of gasoline. As a result of the search warrant, property belonging to the Bagley Fire Department was located including the stolen credit card

Officials say 43-year old Terry Eugene King, was charged with Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Felon, Unauthorized Possession of an Offensive Weapon, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Theft Third Degree, Theft Second Degree, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs and Driving Under Suspension.

22-year old Jessica June Wells, was charged with Dominion/Control of a Firearm by a Domestic Abuse Offender, Unauthorized Possession of an Offensive Weapon, Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, Possession of a Controlled Substance 1st Offense and Permitting and Unauthorized Person to Drive.

And 26-year old Curtis Michael Swihart was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana, Drug Tax Stamp Violation and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

King was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $20,000 cash only bond. Jessica Wells was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $5,000 cash or surety bond. Swihart was seen by the Guthrie County Magistrate and held on $500 cash only bond.

A 20-year old male transient was arrested Friday in Council Bluffs for Intimidation with a dangerous weapon and Going Armed with Intent. Bluffs Police say Javon Jennings was taken into custody Friday evening, after officers responded to a call about a person with a hatchet, at Mohm’s Place/Joshua House, a meal site that feeds homeless and near homeless families and individuals, at N. 15th Street and Avenue N.

While officers were responding they were informed that the male was swinging the hatchet at persons in the area. As officers arrived in the area, they were informed that the man, later identified as Jennings, had fled the area on a bicycle. Officers located Jennings on his bicycle in the area of No 20th and Avenue L.  The man was detained  while officers made contact with witnesses at the Joshua House.

Officers were able to locate a witness who had video recorded the incident on their cell phone. They then reviewed the video and positively identified Jennings as the person who was swinging the hatchet at numerous persons in the dining room of the shelter. Jennings was also noted to be yelling at each of them that he was going to kill them. The victims were identified and interviewed by officers on scene.

The hatchet was located inside the shelter and placed into police property along with the mentioned video. Jennings was placed under arrest and transported to Pottawattamie County Corrections.

An employee of the McDonald’s restaurant in Red Oak was arrested Friday afternoon after allegedly taking more than $1,000 from the store, meant for deposit into a bank. Red Oak Police say 22-year old Chantal Kaye Sperling, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:10-p.m. Friday, following an investigation into the incident, which took place during the late evening hours of July 14th or early morning hours of July 15th.

Sperling faces a felony charge of Theft in the 2nd Degree. She was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.