The Iowa Department of Public Safety reports a physician from Pottawattamie County was arrested Monday, on a suspicion of sex abuse charge.

Dr. Dennis S. Jones (Photo from Methodist Physicians Clinic website)

Officials say 68-year old Dr. Dennis Seaborn Jones, a pediatrician from of Council Bluffs, turned himself in to law enforcement at the Pottawattamie County Jail.  Jones, who has practiced in Council Bluffs for more than 35-years and has no previous complaints on record,  faces a felony charge of Second Degree Sexual Abuse. He’s accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 5-year old girl outside of his medical practice.

The child, who was said to have been the man’s granddaughter,  disclosed the alleged contact to a parent on May 12th, saying she no longer wanted to see Jones because he “tortures” her. Court documents say further interviews indicated the child was the subject of inappropriate touching. Jones’ attorney Mike Winter says Jones is not guilty, is devastated by the claims, and expects to be found not guilty. Dr. Jones made his initial court appearance Monday and was released from the Pottawattamie County Jail after posting $65,000 bond. Methodist Physicians Clinic officials has placed Jones on immediate suspension. They issued a statement on the matter Monday afternoon, saying they learned of the doctor’s arrest early Monday morning. They said they had no further comment at this time.

The charge is the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Council Bluffs Police Department.  Law enforcement continue to investigate the allegations.  Members of the public are encouraged to contact police if they have any information about Dr. Jones that may assist in the investigation.  Please contact Special Agent Chad Fiedler at 712-322-1585.

The Atlantic Police Department reports no one was injured during an accident Saturday afternoon at the intersection of Highway 6 and 29th Street. Officials say vehicles driven by Elijah Vonweyhe and Robert Clausen, both of Atlantic, collided at around 4:40-p.m.  According to the accident report, Vonweyhe was at a stop sign facing east on 29th Street.  Clausen was traveling north on Highway 6 and did not have a stop sign. Vonweyhe proceeded into the intersection and was hit by the Clausen vehicle. Damage from the crash amounted to $6,000. Vonweyhe was cited for Failure to Yield upon entering a highway.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office today (Monday) issued additional information about an accident which occurred May 15th. Officials say at 7:04 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a two-vehicle accident on 590^th Street (Highway 173) in Cass County.  A 1974 John Deere tractor driven by 19-year old Daniel William Kay, of Atlantic,  was northbound on 590^th Street and slowing to turn into a driveway when it was struck in the rear by a 2002 Honda Accord owned and driven by 76-year old Donald Allen Gibson,  of Audubon.

Gibson and a passenger were transported to Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac and were both later transported to Creighton Medical Center in Omaha. Kay was not injured. Damage to the tractor is estimated at $1,500; damage to the Honda Accord is estimated at $6000. Gibson was cited for Failure to Stop in Assured Clear Distance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Saturday of 59-year old Rodney Scott Rasmussen, of Atlantic. Rasmussen was taken into custody for driving while revoked, and on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance. He later released onm his own recognizance. On Sunday, 49-year old Ricky Ray Beauchamp, of Griswold, was arrested on a charge of 5th degree theft. He was later released on $300 bond. That same day, 42-year old Scott Allen Jensen, of Marne, was arrested on a charge of OWI/1st offense. Jensen was being held in the Cass County Jail pending an appearance before the magistrate. And, last Friday, deputies in Cass County arrested 41-year old Jesse Lee Simmons,  of Atlantic,  on a Department of Corrections warrant for Parole Violation. Simmons was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held without bond.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports the arrest on May 17th, of 53-year old Robert Leroy Carroll, Jr, of College Springs. Carroll, Jr. was arrested in College Springs on an outstanding warrant issued in Pottawattamie County, for failure to appear. He was brought to the Page County Jail and later posted a $1,000 bond before being released.

And, Sheriff Palmer says no injuries were reported following a single-vehicle accident Saturday morning, near Shambaugh. 40-year old Megan O’Brien, of Lawrence, KS, was traveling north on Highway 71 at around 8:40-a.m., when her 2006 Dodge van drifted off the road onto the east shoulder. O’Brien over-corrected, causing the van to slide sideways into the east ditch. The driver’s side door and fender made contact with a post, causing about $2,000 damage.  No citations were issued.

A bridge replacement project that began today (Monday) in Shelby County, means emergency crews and others will need to find an alternate route to some residences. The Shelby County Emergency Management Agency says a bridge over an unnamed tributary of Silver Creek, along Shelby County Road F-32, between943 and 1021 F-32, is closed for about three months. A temporary construction address of 1010 Street F-32 has been assigned.

If you have any questions, contact the Shelby County Engineer at 712-755-5954.