MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) — A man accused of killing a 19-year-old Mason City woman has been found competent to stand trial. Sixty-one-year-old Larry Whaley learned last week that two psychiatric experts who examined him say he understands the criminal process against him and is able to help his attorney defend him. Online court records don’t show that a new trial date has been set. He’s pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder.

Authorities say Whaley used a handgun to shoot Samantha Teeter once in the head a little before 4 a.m. on Dec. 2 at his Mason City home. She died two days later at a hospital.

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a baby whose parents have been charged with child endangerment died after becoming wedged between her bed and a wall. The Des Moines Register reports that the Polk County medical examiner says the 7-month-old from Ankeny likely died of “positional asphyxia” last August and that the infant tested positive for cocaine metabolite, a breakdown product of cocaine. Examiner Gregory Schmunk says cocaine can be transmitted between baby and mother via breast milk, but he could not confirm how the drug got into the child’s system or when.

Thirty-three-year-old Michelle Atwell has been charged with child endangerment causing substantial risk, and several drug counts. Forty-eight-year-old Matthew Cohara has been charged with child endangerment causing no injury, and drug counts. Cohara has said their daughter’s death was an accident.

The Creston Police Department reports four recent arrests and two incidents of theft. At around 12:45-a.m. Sunday, 36-year old Bobbie Flynn, of Creston, was arrested at 619 N Birch on a charge of Public
Intoxication. Flynn was later released from the Union County Jail on a Promise to Appear in Court. Last Friday, 22-year old Jacob Davis, of Shannon City, was arrested at 604 W Montgomery, in Creston. Davis was arrested on an Adams County Warrant for the charge of Failure to Appear in Court. He was released to the custody of Adams County Sheriff’s Office.

Also arrested Friday in Creston, was 49-year old Jack Davis, of Orient. Davis was arrested on a Union County Warrant for the charge of Failure to Appear on the original charges of Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drug and Driving While License Denied or Revoked. He remains held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond. And, 53-year old Ronald Griffin II, of Creston, was arrested Friday for Possession of Paraphernalia and on two counts of Possession of Controlled Substance. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $7,000 bond.

An Afton man reported to Creston Police Friday, that sometime between 1-pm Thursday and 10-a.m. Friday, someone stole several plumbing tools, mudding tools, painting supplies and cans of paint from a job site at 601 N. Walnut, in Creston. The loss was estimated at $600. On Saturday, a Creston man reported to Police that sometime between 7-p.m. Friday and 8-a.m. Saturday, someone stole  four, 100-foot extension cords,  six 50-foot extension cords, and one 25-foot extension cord. They were taken from his property at 100 Industrial Parkway. The loss was estimated at $350.

Emergency personnel in Council Bluffs were called to the area of 180 Glen Avenue at around 2:35-a.m., today (Monday), where an SUV reportedly struck a home, and the driver was attempting to flee from the area. Upon arrival in the area officers were directed by witnesses to a man who left on foot north bound on Glen Ave. Officers stopped the suspect, 30-year old Joseph Hrbeck of Council Bluffs, at Pierce St and Glen Ave.

Hrbeck was transported by rescue squad to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. An investigation revealed the vehicle, a 2003 Trailblazer, went out of control and struck a concrete retaining wall and trash cans. No residential structures were damaged. Intoxication is suspected as a reason for the crash. Charges are currently pending.