(KCRG-TV/Radio Iowa) — Cedar Rapids began using its automated traffic cameras on Interstate 380 again on July 1st after a two-year shutdown. The city has since found errors in some of the nearly 6,000 citations sent out in the first four days of operation Cedar Rapids city administrators said tickets would only be issued for drivers going more than 66 miles an hour — but Doug Wolcott told K-C-R-G T-V-9 he got a ticket even though he was under the level set. “I couldn’t believe it,” Wolcott says.

Wolcott says the ticket showed he was going 60 in the 55 zone and was he was surprised the ticket was even sent out. “I got to looking at it and it was only five over — I didn’t think that was the case,” Wolcott says. Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman told K-C-R-G T-V-9 that Wolcott was one of 12 drivers who got tickets but shouldn’t have. Chief Jerman says all of the data goes to the camera vendor, Gatso, for processing and is then sent to the Cedar Rapids Police Department. An officer then makes a decision to send out a citation. “When you have the human element mistakes can be made,” Jerman says.

Chief Jerman said the 12 citations will be dismissed. “We strive for 100 percent — but if we don’t meet 100 percent we’re going to admit our mistake and take corrective action necessary,” according to Jerman. Cedar Rapids City Council member Ashley Vanorny says the ticketing process is not perfect and encouraged anyone with concerns to contact officials. “Regardless of whether someone is here as a commuter or they’re here as a resident, we need them to speak up. And we’ll continue to work on that process to make sure we’re holding up our end of the bargain,” Vanorny says.

Data for the rest of the month of July is still being processed. The city said there could potentially be more tickets issued by mistake and that anyone who receives a ticket they feel was wrongly issued should contact the police department.

Officials with the Council Bluffs Police Department today (Thursday) released more information about incidents that took place with regard to recent homicides and a pursuit, which culminated with an officer-involved shooting of the suspect. Police Chief Tim Carmody said that on Sunday, August 4th, at approximately 5:15-p.m, Council Bluffs Officers were dispatched to 2103 6th Ave. to investigate a suspicious death. Further investigation revealed that 52-year old Jerrot H. Clark was found deceased inside the residence. Clark appeared to have died as a result of homicidal violence – in this case a single gunshot.

On Wednesday, August 7th, 2019 at approximately 2:15-a.m., Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Olderog observed a green 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup stopped in the area of County Road L34 and Juniper Road, with its headlights off. The Deputy attempted to stop the Dodge for the minor traffic violation and suspicious activity. An occupant of the vehicle fired shots from the Ram at Deputy Olderog as it fled from him. Deputy Olderog lost sight of the Ram as it fled south on Juniper Rd.

At approximately 2:39-a.m. Wednesday, Council Bluffs Officers were in the area of Kanesville Blvd. and Railroad Ave. to assist Pottawattamie County Deputies in locating the suspects and vehicle mentioned above. Officers Colby McCord and Anthony Fletcher observed the Dodge Ram and attempted to stop it. The driver of the Dodge fled from both officers onto Indian Hills Rd. while the passenger again began firing shots at the officers. The Dodge Ram crashed in the 1400 block of Indian Hills Rd. with both occupants still inside. The male subject, later identified as 28-year old Troy E. Petersen, from Essex, Iowa and 44-year old April M. Montello-Roberts, of Shenandoah, Iowa were actively moving inside the vehicle.

Troy E. Petersen

Montello-Roberts

Officers actively worked to communicate with Petersen, who was holding a long black rifle, but he refused to surrender or release Montello-Roberts. At approximately 2:41-a.m., two minutes after the vehicle came to rest, Petersen indicated that he was holding Montello-Roberts hostage. Officer’s on-scene continued to negotiate with Petersen for the better part of almost two hours. During the negotiations with Petersen, officers were able to convince him to throw one gun out of the truck. At approximately 4:26-a.m., Petersen began pointing a firearm at Montello-Roberts’ head and became more agitated.

In an effort to save Montello-Roberts’s life a CBPD officer fired one shot through the windshield of the Dodge Ram. The shot incapacitated Petersen, allowing officers to move in and rescue Montello-Roberts. After removing her from the vehicle, Montello-Roberts was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Once Montello-Petersen was safely removed, Petersen was examined by medics – they confirmed that he was dead.

At around 12:29-p.m. Wednesday, Pottawattamie County Deputies and Council Bluffs Police Officers were dispatched to 270 Yellow Pole Road to investigate a suspicious death. Upon entering and securing the scene deputies/officers discovered the resident, Steven P. Carlson, a 51 year old male, deceased inside his house. Further investigation revealed that Mr. Carlson died from homicidal violence – again gunshots.

None of the officers or deputies at the Indian Hills Rd. incident were aware that Petersen and Montello-Roberts were connected to the Clark homicide. Nor were they aware that Petersen and Montello-Roberts were involved in the Carlson homicide. It was only through yesterday’s case at 1400 Indian Hills Rd. and interviews, we were able to connect each of these cases. Ultimately, we learned that Petersen and Montello-Roberts entered 2103 6th Ave. with the intent to rob the victim, Mr. Clark, and ultimately killed him.

Evidence and information at this point indicates that Montello-Roberts was driving the fleeing Dodge Ram while Petersen fired shots at Deputy Olderog. During the short time that deputies and officers lost sight of Petersen and Montello-Roberts they killed Mr. Carlson and forced entry into his residence. Chief Carmody said “Unfortunately, we didn’t learn about that part of this tragedy until Mr. Carlson was discovered by family.”

Officers observed Petersen and Montello-Roberts shortly after they fled Mr. Carlson’s home. Again, they shot at officers; striking Officer McCord’s marked cruiser while attempting to get away. Carmody said “Even after they tried to kill Deputy Olderog and attempted to murder Officer McCord they chose not to surrender. Instead, Petersen took Montello-Roberts hostage while surrounded by over 20 officers and deputies. Even as officers attempted to negotiate Montello-Roberts’ release Petersen chose to place a rifle under her chin as if preparing to kill her. It was at that point that one of our CBPD Emergency Services Team (EST) members fired a single shot – saving Montello-Roberts life and ending the deadly force threat.”

The officer who fired the shot is a nine year veteran of our department and has been serving on our EST Team for 5 ½ years. Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators recovered evidence, including multiple loaded firearms, connected to the Clark and Carlson homicides and the attempted murders of the two law enforcement officers.

The Chief said “Initially we believed that Petersen was the driver of the Dodge Ram, but that does not appear to be the case. Our investigation later revealed that Montello-Roberts was the driver, as Petersen fired the shots out of the moving pickup.” Montello-Roberts was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on the following charges: Felony Murder – 2 counts; Attempted Murder – 2 counts; Robbery First Degree – 1 count; Burglary First Degree – 1 count.

As mentioned previously, this investigation is still on-going.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reported at around 9-a.m. today (Thursday), that two, white male 16 year old students had absconded from the Clarinda Academy. Brothers says a perimeter was set up around a cornfield located southwest of the campus. The Clarinda K-9 unit of Reed and Raiko was deployed, as well as an Montgomery County EMA drone operated by EMA Coordinator Brian Hammon. Page County EMA Kris Grebert assisted at the scene as well.

As of 10:30-a.m., Brothers said authorities had suspended the search. He said also, “We have been unable to locate the students. We believe they have slipped our perimeter.”

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two voter advocacy groups say Iowa must stop rejecting voter ballots from people misidentified as felons. The Des Moines Register reports that the Brennan Center for Justice and the League of Women Voters of Iowa told Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate that the rejections violate federal law. An attorney for the Brennan Center says the state could face civil action in federal court if the problems arising from the errant felon database aren’t fixed. The warnings were contained in a June 13 letter to Pate.

Pate’s staff says he’s working on administrative rule changes that would require courts to provide conviction documents anytime someone is submitted for inclusion on the felon list.
Iowa bars felons from voting unless the governor or president individually restores the right.