Two men were arrested on drug charges Sunday, following a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Council Bluffs.  Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker told KJAN News Deputy Brian Miller stopped a Nissan for traveling over the speed limit on I-80 eastbound at the 5-mile marker at around 4:30-p.m., Sunday. After issuing the driver a warning citation, Miller spoke with the driver, but based upon what he saw in the vehicle, suspected the occupants could be involved in the trafficking of drugs.  Miller requested, but was denied permission to search the vehicle. He then used his K-9 partner “Francisco” to conduct a perimeter search of the vehicle. The dog reacted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, which provided reasonable suspicion and probable cause for Miller to search the vehicle. During the search, the Deputy discovered two garbage bags full of packaged marijuana, amounting to about 45-pounds, in the trunk of the vehicle.

The driver, 43-year old Tou Thao, of Eureka, CA, and his passenger, 32-year old Doua Thao, of Brooklyn Park, MN, were taken into custody. Tou Thao was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Deliver/Marijuana, a Drug Tax Stamp violation, Prohibited Acts, and Excessive Speed. Doua Thao also faces a charge of PCS with the Intent to Deliver, Prohibited Acts, and a Tax Stamp violation. Both men were being held this (Tuesday) morning in the Pottawattamie County Jail, on $100,000 bond each.

Danker said Deputy Miller and his K-9 partner have been “Very Successful” in detecting suspicious drug activity along the Interstate, and “Francisco” has certainly “Earned his keep.”

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Department says three people were arrested on drug charges late last month. In their report issued today (Tuesday), authorities said 54-year old Dana DeMambro, of Grand Junction, CO, was arrested Dec. 24th, on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. On Dec. 19th, 23-year old Mitchell Scott Blazek, of Crescent, was arrested on the same charges, and, 21-year old Katrina Marie Fester, of Council Bluffs, was arrested on the 19th, for Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Child Endangerment.

Officials said also, Jenny Bruce, of Hamburg, was transported to the Grape Community Hospital in Hamburg, after her vehicle was involved in a crash on Dec. 21st. Bruce was driving a 2004 Chevy Suburban on Washington Street in Hamburg, when the SUV began to swerve. The vehicle went through the intersection of E Street and hit a light pole, before it backed up and continued east. The SUV drove up onto a sidewalk and hit a  metal sign before finally coming to rest.

Charges have been filed or are pending, against an Omaha man and a Council Bluffs woman, following two separate accidents over the holiday weekend. Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department spokesman, Sgt. Dwayne Riche, says 34-year old Jeremy Jackson, of Omaha, was transported to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, following a crash Saturday night near Crescent. Riche says Jackson was traveling westbound on Coldwater Avenue at around 11:08-p.m., when he missed a stop sign at the intersection of Coldwater Avenue and Old Lincoln Highway. Jackson’s 2011 Toyota RAV-4 slammed into an embankment, and sustained $15,000 damage. Alcohol is believed to have played a role in the crash, and charges are pending the results of tests conducted following the crash.

The second accident happened Sunday afternoon, in Oakland. Sgt. Riche says at around 12:55-p.m., a 2005 Hyundai Sonata driven by 19-year old Ailish Andersen, of Council Bluffs, was traveling westbound on Highway 6 in Oakland and passing another vehicle, when her car went out of control. The vehicle entered the south ditch and rolled over, coming to rest on a barbed-wire fence. Andersen was charged with Failure to Maintain  Control, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana for Personal Use, and Failure to wear a seat belt. An investigation into the incident continues, and additional charges are possible.

Police in Atlantic report today (Tuesday), the arrest Monday of 24-year old Ryan Juhl, of Atlantic. Juhl was taken into custody on a charge of Criminal Mischief. He was booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending a court appearance.

And, the A-PD says no injuries were reported following an accident Friday morning on 2nd Street, in front of the Atlantic Bottling Company. Officials say a vehicle registered to Atlantic Bottling was legally parked in front of the business, when a vehicle driven by Michael Vanpatter, of Council Bluffs, clipped the right front corner of the parked vehicle, as Vanpatter was traveling westbound on 2nd Street.  Vanpatter was cited for striking an unattended vehicle.  Damage from the mishap, which occurred at around 7:30-a.m., Friday, amounted to $5,200.

w/ Ric Hanson

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w/ Ric  Hanson

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Police in Council Bluffs are looking for a suspect wanted in connection with the robbery Monday night of the U-S Cellular Store on West Broadway Street. Officials say at around 7:45-p.m., a black male, about 25-to 35-years of age, walked into the store at 2015 Broadway. The man said he had a weapon and threatened the clerk while demanding money.

He was given an undetermined amount of cash and fled the store on foot. No get-away vehicle was ever seen. The suspect was described as being thin and short. He wore a black mask, hoodie and blue jeans. If you have any information on the crime, contact the Council Bluffs Police Department at 712-328-4728.

Page County Sheriff Lyle Palmer reports a man from Shenandoah was arrested Friday night.

Johnathon Tuttle (Photo via IA Sex Offender Registry)

 28-year old Johnathon Richard Tuttle was taken into custody at a residence outside of Coin on an outstanding warrant out of Page County for violation of the State’s Sex Offender Registry (Failure to Register Address). Tuttle had been convicted on a charge of 3rd Degreee sexual abuse in July 2005, in connection with incidents involving a female age 13 or under. He was being held Monday in the Page County Jail on a $2,000 cash only bond.

Authorities in Page County report also, 35-year old Adrian Latham was arrested Saturday in Clarinda, on an outstanding warrant out of Montgomery County. Latham was arrested with the assistance of the Clarinda Police Department and brought to the Montgomery County Jail for disposition.