Law enforcement officers around the state will be busy over the St. Patrick’s Day weekend. A four day long Special Traffic Enforcement Program — or STEP “wave” — is underway involving 250 Iowa law enforcement agencies. STEP Coordinator Randy Hunefeld says officers will be watching for all traffic violations, including drunk drivers. “We know there will be a lot of partying going on over the weekend and with the added law enforcement, we recommend to the motoring public that if you’re drinking, don’t drive, because your chances of getting caught are a lot greater this weekend,” Hunefeld says. 

A similar STEP wave over the St. Patrick’s Day period last year resulted in 347 people stopped for drunk driving. Iowa roads have been dangerous so far this year. Hunefeld says there have been nearly 70 fatal crashes around the state over the first two-and-a-half months of 2012. “The sad part about that is we’ve had such a beautiful winter and the roads been clear and dry for the most part,” Hunefeld says. “Unfortunately, about 30-percent of those fatalities have involved victims not wearing their seat belts.” The nearly 70 deaths this year follows 363 traffic fatalities in all of 2011 — the fewest traffic deaths in Iowa in 66 years.

(Pat Curtis/Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports 22-year old Cam Christopher Jahnke, of Lewis, was arrested Monday on a Sheriff’s Office warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine. Jahnke was also charged with two counts of Distribution to Person(s) under the Age of 18, and one count of Using a Person under 18 in the Drug Trade. He was brought to the Cass County Jail and held on $110,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office has released details on their investigation into dump truck rollover accident that took place Wednesday morning, north of Atlantic. Officials say the Audubon County Secondary Roads Department truck driven by 58-year old Edward Leroy Nielsen, of Audubon, was traveling south on Olive Street, about 2-miles north of Atlantic, when a 1997 Pontiac Sunfire driven by 18-year old Spencer Bradley Anderson, of Atlantic, made a left turn in front of the dump truck into the Pymosa Head Start driveway. 

The action caused Nielsen to lose control of the truck, which flipped onto its top into the east ditch. Nielsen was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital by Medivac Ambulance. Damage from the crash amounted to $50,000. The incident remains under investigation.

Two Red Oak residents were arrested Wednesday on felony sexual abuse charges. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department says 30-year old Jesus J. Ramos-Torres and 31-year old Jose Manuel Ramos, both of Red Oak, face charges of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree, following an investigation into an incident which allegedly occurred on March 10th. Ramos-Torres and Ramos were being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $10,000 bond, each.

If convicted on the Class C felony charges, they face up to 10-years in jail and fines of anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports four Red Oak residents were arrested early Wednesday morning and late Wednesday night, on felony burglary charges, in connection with an investigation into the March 6th break-in and burglary at the Red Oak Lanes Bowling alley. Facing charges of burglary in the 3rd degree, is: 20-year old Aaaron G. Nelson; 19-year olds Christian T. Leming and Chelsee L. Morris, and 21-year old Michael L. Chase, all of Red Oak.

Chase and Morris were released from custody after posting bond, while Nelson and Leming remain in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond each. If convicted on the charges, each of the suspects could face up to 5-years in prison and fines of $750 to $7,500.