A Council Bluffs Police Officer on patrol a little after 3-a.m. today (Wednesday) in the area of 35th and Avenue G, saw a silver 2001 Chrysler minivan that had been reported stolen on Jan. 15th. The officer kept the vehicle in sight, and forwarded information to Nebraska Authorities, as the van got onto I-480 West. While the vehicle was westbound across the I-480 Bridge, it stalled just before it reached the IA / NE state line. The Council Bluffs officer pulled in behind the stalled vehicle and activated his emergency lights. The driver – later identified as 51-year old Brian J. Hanson, of Omaha -abandoned the vehicle. He fled on foot into the east bound lanes of I-480.

Brian J. Hanson

The officer gave chase and caught Hanson. While officers were in foot pursuit of Hanson, the abandoned stolen van rolled backwards striking the push bumpers on the stopped / parked police cruiser. The cruiser sustained minor damage. Brian J. Hanson was arrested on a Felony warrant for being a Fugitive from Justice, and new charges that include Theft in the 2nd degree, Eluding, and Interference with Official Acts.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — Voters have placed another Republican in a northwest Iowa House seat. Jacob Bossman won 59 percent of the votes to beat Democrat Rita DeJong in the District 6 special election Tuesday. He replaces Republican Jim Carlin, who vacated the post when he won a special election to the state Senate last month.

The heavily Republican district covers part of Sioux City, the cities of Sergeant Bluff, Bronson and Salix, and some rural areas in northern and southern Woodbury County. Bossman lost his previous bid for District 6 post in 2016. It was DeJong’s first run for elective office.

A traffic stop at around 7:18-p.m. Tuesday, near Corning, resulted in two arrests. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office reports a passenger in the vehicle, Hayley Vandel, of Lenox, was arrested on an Adams County warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The driver, Jason Woods, of Lenox, was arrested for OWI (test refusal).

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CST

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Polk County jury has convicted a man of murder in the fatal shooting of his girlfriend in the Des Moines suburb of Johnston. The Des Moines Register reports jurors on Tuesday deliberated less than three hours before convicting 39-year-old Abraham Roberts of first-degree murder in the death of Agnes Yarlee, who was found April 15 in her apartment. Prosecutors say the 34-year-old Yarlee had been shot five times as she sat on a couch following an argument with Roberts.

LYLE, Minn. (AP) — A semi careened off a highway and crashed through the wall of a southern Minnesota elementary school, injuring four people including two children in a classroom. School officials in Lyle, next to the Iowa border, say semi rear-ended another vehicle on Highway 218 about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, then careered off the highway and crashed into the school with its cab landing inside the walls. The highway is about 100 yards (90 meters) from the school.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has left the door open to Iowa requiring certain Medicaid recipients to work as a condition of health care coverage. Reynolds told reporters Tuesday “we’ll take a look at that down the road” when asked about work rules for able-bodied Medicaid recipients. She declined a timeline, adding she’s focused on separate workforce development initiatives.

GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa (AP) — A judge has set a new trial starting date of Sept. 17 for a man charged with murder and arson in Guthrie County. Patrick Thompson has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of arson. The May 15 fire killed 16-year-old Shakiah Cockerham and 12-year-old Melanie “Paige” Exline and injured their uncle, William Long III, and grandmother, Shirley Exline.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer today (Tuesday), said an accident took place Sunday morning, north of Essex, but no injuries were reported. Just before 7-a.m., authorities were notified of a single vehicle in a ditch off of D Avenue.  When a Deputy arrived at approximately 7:30 AM, there was nobody around the vehicle and the vehicle was cold.

The investigation determined 19-year old Tanner James Sharp, of Knoxville, was operating a 2010 GMC 1500 pickup  northbound on D Avenue just on the north edge of Essex.  Sharp said he had fallen asleep at the wheel.  The vehicle entered the west ditch and into a concrete culvert.  Sharp abandoned the vehicle, and stated in a phone conversation that he was uninjured from the accident.

No other property damage was reported. Damage to the vehicle is considered to be $15,000.00. No charges have been issued at this time.

Fremont County Sheriff Kevin Aistrope has updated an earlier report with regard to an investigation into stolen property and a pursuit. Aistrope reports two more people are in custody, and the man who ran from authorities was officially identified. A suspect who was previously reported to have run from a vehicle after it crashed during a pursuit, was identified as 46-year old Jerry Eaton, of Osceola, Missouri. He had previously refused to provide authorities with his name.

Eaton, along with 26-year old Brandon Wood, of Hollister, MO., and 45-year old Shanna Daniels Case, of Missouri, were taken into custody. Eaton and Case were wanted by authorities in Missouri. Both Wood and Case were found near the crashed vehicle. Case and Wood were being held without bond until making an initial court appearance. All three were arrested in connection with a ring of car thefts and burglaries in Fremont County.

The incident leading to their arrests began, when deputies, conducting an investigation into a series of stolen vehicle and thefts, Monday night recovered two stolen vehicle, a stolen camper, flatbed trailer, 4-wheeler, and other, miscellaneous stolen items. They were recovered in the vicinity of Green Hollow Road. During the investigation, Deputies came into contact with a suspicious vehicle, and they soon engaged in a pursuit on Green Hollow Road.

The suspect vehicle traveled south into Thurman, before heading east towards Highway 275 and then changing directions. The vehicle went south on 242nd Avenue and the driver shut off the lights before turning into a field entrance a little over one-mile from 160th Street. Deputies pursued the vehicle until it crashed. When the persons inside took off on foot, Deputies deployed the Sheriff’s Office K9 “Judge” and his partner, to track the suspects.

One of the suspects, later identified as Eaton, was tracked into the bluffs and down a creek bed. He was given numerous commands to surrender, but continued to resist, and fled on foot once again. The K9 foiled his efforts to run, though.  During the apprehension, the Eaton kicked the K9 in the face, but the dog never let go of his bite., and dragged him toward the handler. Eaton was then taken into custody and transported to Grape Community Hospital to be treated for dog bite and hypothermia. He was later transported to Jenny Edmundson Hospital, in Council Bluffs. A Deputy was treated for frost bite, following the incident.

Eaton faces charges that include Eluding, Assault on a Peace Officer, and other infractions. Tabor Police and the Iowa State Patrol assisted in handling the incident. The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the citizens who have called in suspicious activity, and the Fremont County Roads Department, for being aware of surroundings and suspicious activity.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds has left the door open to Iowa requiring certain Medicaid recipients to work as a condition of health care coverage. Reynolds told reporters Tuesday “we’ll take a look at that down the road” when asked about work rules for able-bodied Medicaid recipients. Reynolds wouldn’t give a timeline, adding she’s focused on separate workforce development initiatives.

President Donald Trump’s administration announced recently it will let states implement certain requirements as a condition of receiving Medicaid benefits. It could involve making people enrolled in Medicaid find work, attend school, enroll in job training or perform community service. The Iowa Department of Human Services oversees the state’s privatized Medicaid program, which provides health care to the poor and disabled. A DHS spokesman says the agency is reviewing the federal guidance.

Atlantic Police, today (Tuesday), arrested 36-year old Brian Beard, of Atlantic. Beard was taken into custody for Public Intoxication/3rd or subsequent offense. He was booked-into the Cass County Jail.

The Harlan Police Department reports 20-year old Justin Andrew Dickinson, of Harlan, was arrested Monday on drug and other charges, following a traffic stop. Dickinson was charged with Operating a vehicle without owner’s consent, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended, violation of financial liability coverage, and operating a non-registered vehicle.

On Jan. 13th, 43-year old Charles Xavier Wuebker, of Addison, TX, was arrested following a traffic stop. Wuebker was charged with OWI, violation of financial liability, driving on the wrong side of a two-lane highway, open container, and failure to obey a stop sign. That same day, 39-year old Jerod Steven Mathiasen, of Harlan, was arrested for OWI and speeding.  On Jan. 12th, 48-year old Eric Leonard Williams, of LaVista, NE., was arrested in Harlan for OWI and speeding.

And, on Jan. 9th, Harlan Police arrested 46-year old Christopher Michael Will, of Harlan, following a reported domestic situation in progress.  Will was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault and booked into the Shelby County Jail.

(12-p.m.News)

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a traffic stop on Interstate 80 at around 10-a.m. last Wednesday on a speeding SUV, resulted in the arrest of a woman from California, on drug charges. 26-year old Saundra Ashley Hawkins, of Marysville, CA, was taken into custody for a Controlled Substance Violation, after 15-pounds of marijuana was found in the vehicle.

At around 11:20-p.m. Sunday, a man was arrested on a Pottawattamie County warrant for Violation of Probation, after a deputy saw him walking in the middle of Railroad Highway, near Yellow Road. When the deputy activated his patrol vehicle’s lights to check on the man, he walked to the patrol vehicle and identified himself as 46-year old Bryan Douglas Charles, of Omaha. Charles said he was lost and trying to find the homeless shelter after having left a friends’ house on Franklin Avenue, in Council Bluffs. Pott. County Dispatch confirmed Charles was wanted on a warrant. He was transported to the Pott. County Jail and booked-in.

And, 29-year old Rachel Linn Nielsen, of Omaha, was arrested Monday afternoon in Underwood, on warrants for Violation of Probation, Operating a motor vehicle without owners consent, and Failure to Appear in court on a 2nd Degree Theft charge.  Nielsen was booked-in the Pott. County Jail.