(DES MOINES, Iowa/KCCI)— Des Moines police have identified the person whose dead body was found Thursday in a wooded area. First responders showed up to investigate a report of a dead body found in a ditch near Southwest 42nd Street and Willow Creek Avenue, police say. The body had been found by a Des Moines Public Works team working nearby. Police identified the woman as Belinda Anne Morris, 55, of Des Moines. An autopsy did not uncover any indication of criminal action that contributed to her death. The investigation remains ongoing.

(DES MOINES, Iowa/KCCI) — Two Des Moines residents are behind bars after being sentenced for their role in injuring an infant last year. Frankie Honeyman and Cheyenne Swink pleaded guilty after a 4-week-old arrived at the hospital with multiple broken bones. Honeyman was sentenced to 15 years in prison for both child endangerment causing bodily injury and neglect of a dependent. Swink was sentenced to two years for aggravated misdemeanor. The bond on appeal is set at $100,000 for Honeyman and $50,000 for Swink.

(AMES, Iowa/KCCI) — One of the three Iowa State University students involved in a harassment case has been cleared. Tyler Ekstrom was charged with assault and extortion. He originally pleaded not guilty. Police say he and two other Farmhouse Fraternity members tried to force another member to perform a sex act and threatened to shoot that person with an airsoft gun if he didn’t do it. On Friday, a judge granted a motion to dismiss the charges against Ekstrom. Another member, Grant Kuehnast, was sentenced earlier in the week to two years probation and an $855 fine.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa/KETV) – The Council Bluffs Police Department is ending 2023 with a new police chief. Matt Davis was sworn in at a ceremony in late November. Davis is settling into his position as the top cop in Council Bluffs.  He previously worked for the Illinois State Police for 25 years and worked right under the chief there. With 2024 on the horizon, Davis already has goals for his 118 sworn officers. He already knows recruitment is a top priority. The chief said he’s ready to lead. Davis replaced Chief Tim Carmody, who retired earlier this year. Carmody spent 40 years with the department.

(Creston, Iowa) – The Creston Police Department reports a man was arrested early this (Sunday) morning on multiple charges and a repeat charge. Authorities say 36-year-old Brandon Hurshel Whitfield, of Creston, was arrested at this residence on Five Union County Warrants and Probation Warrants. His original charges include: Violation of Probation/Domestic Abuse Assault (a simple misdemeanor)  – no bond; Violation of Probation/Eluding (a serious misdemeanor) – no bond; Possession of Controlled Substance/2nd Offense, and Possession of Controlled Substance/Marijuana-2nd offense, with a $2,000 cash-only bond; Violation of no Contact/Protection Order – $300 cash or surety bond; 2 counts of Violation of no contact/protective order, and Interference with Official Acts. Whitfield also face a new/additional charge of Interference with Official Acts. He was taken to the Union County Jail and was being held without bond.

A little before 10-p.m., Saturday, Creston Police arrested 28-year-old Joseph Jason Blakely-Luddington (no known address) at the Creston Union County LEC.  Blakely-Luddington was charged with Disorderly Conduct-Loud Raucous Noise. He was taken to the Union County Jail and held on a $300 cash or surety bond.

(Dawson, Iowa) – A man from Audubon County died Friday afternoon, when the motorcycle he was riding collided with a pickup truck west of Dawson, in northwestern Dallas County. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2017 Dodge RAM pickup driven by 64-year-old Gary Bugger, of Boone, was traveling west on Highway 141 at around 1:30-p.m., and attempting to turn left onto C Avenue, and in doing so, turned into the path of an eastbound 2010 BMW motorcycle operated by 56-year-old Daniel Royce Beattie, of Audubon.

Beattie was ejected from his motorcycle during the collision. He landed in the south ditch and died at the scene.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene and during the investigation, by the Dallas and Guthrie County Sheriff’s Departments, and the Dallas County Medical Examiner.