MILFORD, Iowa (AP) — Police have identified the man whose body was discovered in a burned down northern Iowa storage unit. Milford police tell television station KTIV that the victim was 53-year old Francis Petska, of Spirit Lake, Iowa. Petska’s body was found Nov. 7 after firefighters put out a blaze at the unit. No other details of the investigation have been released.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports a Missouri man was arrested following an investigation into a personal injury, hit-and-run accident, late Tuesday morning. 40-year old Warren Frank Davis, Jr., of Grant City, MO., was arrested after he fled the scene of the accident at the intersection of 16th and Garfield Streets, in Clarinda. Brothers says at around 11:30-a.m. Tuesday, Davis’ vehicle struck a Chevrolet Sonic driven by 39-year old Renee Dawn Pulliam, of Clarinda.

Pulliam was traveling north into the intersection of 16th and Garfield, when Davis Jr., who was traveling west on East Garfield Street, ran a red light, causing the Pulliam vehicle to broadside the Davis Jr. vehicle. Pulliam’s Chevrolet Sonic sustained significant front-end damage and is believed to be a total loss. Davis Jr. was apprehended after his 1993 Honda Civic broke down due to mechanical failure at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and 230th St. approximately two miles south of Clarinda. Davis was taken into custody without incident by members of the Clarinda Police Department and Iowa State Patrol. The Patrol is in charge of the accident investigation.

A motorist who had been following Davis Jr. after he fled the accident scene alerted law enforcement to Davis Jr’s. location. Davis is charged with leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, fail to obey a solid red traffic signal and possession of drug paraphernalia. Davis is currently being held in the Page County Jail on $1,562 bail.

Police reports have been submitted to the offices of Page County Attorney Carl M. Sonksen for review regarding the filing of formal charges.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office K9 unit stopped a vehicle at around 11-p.m. Tuesday, and arrested a Missouri man on weapon and drug charges. 29-year old Jordan Michael Nielsen, of Rockport, MO., was pulled over outside of Hamburg, near Highway 275 and 310th Street. During the investigation, Nielsen was found to be in possession of two pistols, meth, marijuana, brass knuckles and drug paraphernalia. He was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, carrying weapons, and possession of paraphernalia. His bond at the Fremont County Jail was set at $4,300.

Jordan Nielsen

Fremont County Deputies were assisted by the Atchison County, MO., Sheriff’s Office.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Cedar Rapids officials have taken the first steps to make it tougher for fireworks vendors to set up for sales. Television station KCRG reports that the Cedar Rapids City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to advance an ordinance that would restrict fireworks sales to industrial zoning areas.

The vote to pass the first reading of the ordinance was 8-0. It must pass two more readings to take effect. Cedar Rapids City Council members also are set to vote Nov. 28 on a proposal to completely ban on the use of fireworks anywhere in the city.

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man wanted in Nebraska for parole violations has been arrested in Iowa after leading state troopers there on a chase. The Globe Gazette reports that a trooper had stopped 21-year-old Elias Mendoza for a suspected seat belt violation Tuesday morning in Mason City. The patrol says Mendoza then fled the stop in his vehicle. The Iowa State Patrol gave chase, intentionally hitting Mendoza’s car. Troopers say Mendoza then fled on foot and was arrested inside a nearby apartment.

Mendoza now faces 11 misdemeanor counts in Iowa. He is being held without bond in Cerro Gordo County Jail, and Nebraska authorities have place a hold on him, indicating they’ll seek to extradite him to Nebraska.