Police officers from five towns and deputies from two county sheriff’s offices were involved in a three-hour standoff early this (Monday) morning in the northwest Iowa town of Ireton. The incident began as a car burglary, but soon escalated after the victims were looking around their vehicles and were confronted by a man who allegedly made threats with a shotgun. Within minutes, the Ireton home was surrounded by police.

Three people were arrested; a 32-year-old Ireton man, a 25-year- old man from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a 16-year-old boy from Ireton. The juvenile is charged with burglary and theft, while the two men were arrested for possession of drugs and aggravated assault.

Hawarden Police News Release:
In the early morning hours of Monday, Hawarden Police Department responded to a confrontation in Ireton after a neighbor found two of their vehicles were broken into. Officers were called to 602 East Street in Ireton after the complainant discovered two of their vehicles had been broken into. As the victim was looking around their vehicles, one of the occupants came out of the residence of 602 East Street and confronted the victims. During the confrontation what looked to be a shotgun was displayed and a threat was made to shoot the victims of the car burglary. Officers responded to the scene within minutes.

Due to the nature of the call and a firearm being displayed, officers from the Hawarden Police Department, Sioux Center Police Department, Rock Valley Police Department, and Orange City Police Department secured the perimeter of the residence and called for assistance from the Plymouth County/Sioux County and Le Mars Special Response Team.

After approximately three hours, the standoff ended peacefully with the three residents inside the house being taken into custody. Arrested were 32 year old Vincent Gabriel Perez-Martinez of Ireton. Perez-Martinez was charged with possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. 25 year old David Anthony Burton of Sioux Falls was charged with aggravated assault. A 16-year old male from Ireton was charged with two counts of burglary in the third degree and one count of theft in the third degree. Perez-Martinez and Burton are both in custody at the Sioux County Jail. The 16 year-old male is being held at the Juvenile Detention Center in Cherokee. Hawarden Police Department was assisted by the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office, Le Mars Police Department, Rock Valley Police Department, Sioux Center Police Department, Orange City Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, and the Ireton Ambulance and Rescue. The Plymouth/Sioux County Special Response Team is made up of officers of the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office and the Le Mars Police Department.

(Radio Iowa)

The Harlan Police Department, Monday, released a lengthy report on arrests and incidents dating back to March 1st. Among the most notable arrests: On March 5th, 27-year old Jacob Larson, of Harlan, and 22-year old William Damon, of Earling, were arrested after Harlan Police were called to the 1000 block of Chatburn for an altercation outside that location. Larson was charged with assault on a peace officer, disorderly conduct, interference with official acts and public intoxication.  Damon was charged with disorderly conduct, interference with official acts, and public intoxication. Both men were brought to the Shelby County Jail.

On March 8th, 18-year old Elizabeth Stroud, of Defiance, was arrested after Harlan Police were called to Shopko for a possible shoplifter.  Stroud was taken into custody and transported to the Shelby County Jail where she was charged with Theft in the 5^th degree.

On March 16th, 50-year old Derrick Kaldenberg, of Harlan, was arrested on an active Shelby County warrant.  He was transported to the Shelby County Jail.

On March 17th, 62-year old Leann Grieder, of Harlan, was arrested following a traffic stop.  Grieder was transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and prohibited acts.  She was also cited for improper rear lamps.

On March 20th, 21-year old Raymond Powley, of Council Bluffs, and 18-year old Joslynn Johnston, of Harlan, were arrested following the execution of a search warrant.  Powley and Johnston were both transported to the Shelby County Jail and charged with Possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, prohibited acts, failure to affix drug tax stamp, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, and gathering where a controlled substance unlawfully used.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A House panel has approved a bill that would toughen Iowa’s regulations for texting and driving. A subcommittee of the House Transportation Committee unanimously agreed Monday to support the legislation. It’s now eligible for a full committee vote.

The bill would allow a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver specifically for texting. It’s a secondary offense under current law, meaning an officer must have another reason to initiate a traffic stop.

The law now prohibits drivers operating a vehicle from using a cellphone or other hand-held electronic communication device to write, send or read a text message. The bill would expand those rules to include use of social media, games and internet sites.

The Senate passed the bill 43-6 this month, an indication of bipartisan support.

The Glenwood Police Department reports two people were arrested on separate charges, Sunday. 38-year old Jacquelyn Pratt, of Glenwood was arrested for possession of Marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving                        under suspension. Her bond was set at $1,600. And 41-year old Renae Gaver, of Glenwood was arrested for driving under suspension. Her bond was set at $300.

And, the Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place Sunday. 26-year old Andrew Michael David Nilsson, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension.56-year old Scott Monore Miller, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Reckless Driving. Bond for both men was set at $300. And, 38-year old Ronnie Darnell Stubblefield, of Omaha, was arrested in Mills County, on a Pottawatatamie County warrants for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $2,000.

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Stuart man was arrested on drug charges March 19th, following a traffic stop near 130th and Highway 25. An Iowa State Patrol Trooper who conducted the stop conducted a probable cause search the vehicle after detecting marijuana upon approach of the driver’s side door. During the search, marijuana, prescription pills (Adderall) and THC wax were located. The driver, 19-year old Dakota Nicholas Runde, of Stuart, admitted he was selling marijuana he had purchased from a subject in Des Moines. Runde was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver/marijuana (42.5 grams), Prohibited Acts, Unlawful Possession of Prescription drugs, and a drug tax stamp violation. He was later released from the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

The Sheriff said also, 20-year old Jesse Andrew Queener, of Stuart, was arrested March 20th for Carrying Weapons (A loaded handgun) and a felony Possession with the Intent to Deliver/marijuana, charge. Queener was being held in the Adair County Jail on $5,000 bond.

And, 39-year old John Michael Burgoyne, of Greenfield, was arrested March 19th, on an Adair County warrant for Theft in the 4th Degree. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

The Sheriff noted also, the following persons were cited and released for various offenses: 62-year old James Jeffrey Reese, of Bridgewater, for Trespass and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree and a separate charge of Driving Under Suspension; 27-year old Matthew Ryan Johnson, of Fontanelle, was cited for Trespass and Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree.

42-year old Robert Wayne Long, of Orient, was cited for Obstruction of Emergency Communications and Domestic Abuse Assault. And, 29-year old Ashley Mae Fees, of Orient, was cited for Domestic Abuse Assault. Fees and Long were released on their Own Recognizance.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is reporting numerous arrests took place over the past two weeks. On Sunday, 32-year old Christopher Russell Schrader, of Atlantic, was arrested on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. Schrader was taken to the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Thursday, Deputies in Cass County arrested 50-year old Rex Dean McDermott, of Atlantic, on a charge of OWI 2nd Offense. McDermott was taken to the Cass County Jail and released the following day on his own recognizance. That same day, 19-year old Levi Allen Lank, of Massena, turned himself in on a Cass County Sheriff’s Office felony warrant for Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana. Lank was booked at the Cass County Jail and released later that day on his own recognizance.

Last Wednesday, 58-year old Terry Lee Ranney, of Massena, was arrested in Cass County, on a charge of Domestic Abuse 2nd Offense. Ranney was taken to the Cass County Jail and was released the following day on his own recognizance.

On March 20th, Cass County Deputies arrested 42-year old Matthew Paul Hardick, of Council Bluffs, on a felony charge of Possession of Methamphetamine 3rd/Subsequent offense, and a simple misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, charge. Hardick was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,000 bond.

On March 15th, 28-year old Carl James Soglin, of Atlantic, was arrested on two Atlantic Police Department a felony warrant for Theft 2nd Degree and simple misdemeanor charge of Theft 5th Degree. Soglin was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5,300 bond.

And, on March 14th, 24-year old Tanor Devon Jimmison, of Clarinda, was arrested on a Cass County on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Jimmison was taken to the Cass County Jail where he finished serving sentenced jail time and was released.

HARLAN, Iowa (AP) – Remains of an Iowa soldier who died in the Korean War are being returned for burial in Arlington National Cemetery near Washington, D.C. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced Monday that the remains of Army Sgt. Donald Noehren, of Harlan, Iowa, will be buried April 3rd.

The agency says the 23-year-old Noehren was captured in November 1950 while fighting Chinese units in North Korea. His status was changed from missing in action to deceased the next year after two repatriated U.S. soldiers reported that Noehren had died at a prisoner camp on Jan. 22, 1951.

The agency says several remains were recovered from the camp area in 2005. Agency scientists later matched DNA from relatives to help confirm some of the remains were those of Noehren.

HICKMAN, Neb. (AP) – Authorities have released the names of the drivers involved in a fatal collision in southeast Nebraska. The accident occurred around 7 a.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 77, at a rural road intersection about six miles south of Lincoln. Lancaster County Sheriff’s Capt. Ben Houchin says a westbound car that didn’t halt at the intersection was struck by a northbound car, which then struck a south-facing pickup truck waiting to turn east onto the rural road.

Houchin says the westbound car driver died at the scene. She’s been identified as 87-year-old Laverda Baehr, who lived in Hastings. The other car’s driver was hospitalized in Lincoln. He’s been identified as 26-year-old James Rivers III, of Beatrice.

The pickup driver wasn’t injured. He’s been identified as 64-year-old Jim Jinings, of Macedonia, Iowa.

Atlantic Public Library Director Natalie Struecker has announced the Library has received funding from Humanities, Iowa (a private, non-profit State affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities), to host a presentation entitled “Sherlock Holmes in Turn-of-the-Century Britain,” by Dr. Richard Caplan, an authority on Holmes. Caplan recently published a book concerning Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous detective, and he’s the founding leader of the Younger Stamfords, Iowa City’s Sherlock Holmes Society.

The presentation will take place 10:15-a.m. on April 7th at the Atlantic Public Library, with doors opening at 10-a.m. The Library will be closed that day, except for the program from Dr. Caplan. Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation.

Other library services, including computer use and checking out materials will not be available during the event. The library will be open for regular hours on Saturday, April 8th, from 9-a.m. until 2-p.m.

An unattended tow truck rolled down a driveway Saturday night, struck a power pole and knocked out power to at least two homes. Red Oak Police say the tow truck, belong to Southwest Iowa Auto, had been parked in the back yard of a residence in the 700 block of E. Washington Avenue. When the driver started the 1994 Ford F-350 and went back inside a home, the vehicle rolled out of the driveway to the south and hit a MidAmerican Energy utility pole in the alley. The driver then pulled the truck back into the driveway, apparently not noticing any damage.

The following morning it was learned electrical service had been knocked off the side of two separate homes in the same block. Damage to the tow truck was estimated at $1,500. The utility pole sustained $100 damage, while damage to the affected residences amounted to about $1,000 altogether. No citations were issued.