The parents of a Council Bluffs woman who was killed by a drunk driver in Omaha two years ago watched Tuesday’s debate in the Iowa House on an anti-sanctuary cities bill. Twenty-one-year-old Sarah Root who was killed hours after she graduated from college by a drag-racing drunk driver who was in the country illegally. He was released on bail and disappeared. Republican Representative Jon Jacobsen of Council Bluffs talked about the case during House debate. “This gentleman was a two-time repeat offender,” Jacobsen said. “He had not shown for two previous criminal hearings. Had he been detained or been deported, had ICE and the locals worked together, Sarah probably would be alive.”

The Iowa House voted 55-to-45 in favor of the bill supporters say will assure local authorities in Iowa cooperate with federal immigration officials, as state tax dollars would be withheld from cities and counties with “sanctuary” policies for immigrants under threat of deportation. All three legislators from Council Bluffs voted for it — Republican Mary Ann Hanusa, Democrat Charlie McConkey and Jacobsen.

Jacobsen offered this response to critics of the bill. “You say: ‘Well, we don’t have sanctuary cities in Iowa.’ Really,” Jacobsen said. “…To sacrifice innocent Americans on the pire of ‘political correctness’ is unjust.”

The Republican-led Iowa Senate is expected to take up the same anti-sanctuary cities bill soon, approve changes made by the House and send the bill to the governor. Governor Reynolds said in February that individuals who have come here illegally and decided to break the law “should be held accountable.”

(Radio Iowa)

A Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy attempting to make a traffic stop just before 10-p.m., Tuesday, ended-up in a pursuit. The traffic stop was on a vehicle traveling south on Highway 173 from Elk Horn. The vehicle failed to yield to the Deputy and attempted to flee.  When the vehicle later became high centered in a field near the area of 100^th Street and Timber Road, the driver fled on foot. Assistance was received from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department and their K9, which led to the apprehension of 24-year old Joseph Riesberg, from Audubon.

Riesberg was transferred to the Shelby County Jail and was being held on a $10,000-dollar bond. He is currently being charged for Eluding, Driving While Barred, Interference with Official Acts, Reckless driving, numerous traffic violations, and failure to maintain control. Riesberg had active warrants out of Cass County at the time of the pursuit. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was also assisted by the Iowa State Patrol.

A traffic stop on N. 8th Street and Park Wild, Tuesday afternoon in Pottawattamie County, resulted in the arrest of two Council Bluffs men. Sheriff’s officials say 48-year old Ricky Allan Howland and 45-year old Troy Lynn Holder, both of Council Bluffs, were arrested at around 1:45-p.m. Howland was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance. Two grams of meth were recovered at the scene. Holder was arrested for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A large, fixed-blade knife was seized into evidence.

A Pott. County Deputy was dispatched to a residence in Avoca, Tuesday, in reference to a Trespassing incident. Upon arrival, he made contact with 33-year old Jeremy Theron Harriman, of Avoca. A records check showed Harriman was wanted on an active warrant out of Avoca, for Trespass. He was also arrested for possession of meth, after about 1.3 grams of meth was found in a clear plastic baggie. Harriman was taken to Pott County Corrections and booked in on his warrant.

And, a transient, 33-year old Jesus Everardo Medina, was charged Tuesday night with aggravated assault, following an incident at the Pott. County Jail involving other inmates. 29-year old Bradley Levi Petermann, of Omaha, was charged with Simple assault, as a result of the same incident that involved a 33-year old male.

(2nd update 11:54-a.m.)

In an update to our report at 9-a.m., a two-vehicle accident east of Bedford this morning involving a school bus resulted in about a half dozen people being sent to area hospitals. Bedford Community District Superintendent Joe Drake said the incident occurred at around 8:30-a.m., near the intersection of Highway 2 and Lake Road. Drake told KJAN News two adults and four students were transported by ambulance to Corning and Clarinda hospitals. Their injuries were said to be non-life threatening. Other students on the bus were transported by their parents to the hospital to be checked for injuries. There were a total of 15 students on-board the bus.

Fire and Rescue crews from several communities, including Clarinda and Shenandoah, responded to the scene. The road was said to have been blocked in both directions for a time, while emergency crews were attending to the injured and investigating the accident. The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office says the driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash was transported by ambulance to a hospital as well. The accident remains under investigation by the Iowa State Patrol.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office has announced a special honor will be awarded to Deputy Zac Buttercase. Deputy Buttercase will receive the 2018 Iowa American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the year award. He will be honored and presented with the award in Waterloo, in July. Deputy Buttercase was nominated by the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post #128. Zac is a K9 handler with K9 Judge and has been with the department since 2014. Zac previously served with the Iowa National Guard with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fremont County Deputy Zac Buttercase

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says no injuries were reported following a rollover accident Tuesday morning. A 1998 Chevy driven by 20-year old James Rowe, of Hastings (IA) was traveling south of 330th Street at around 8:40-a.m., and had just crossed the Nishnabotna River bridge south of Oman Avenue, when the vehicle went out of control due to the icy conditions. The vehicle entered the east ditch and rolled onto its top, ending up in a field.