Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater, Monday,  said three men from Rochester, New York, were arrested last week on drug charges while on their way to Colorado.  The Sheriff says a Stuart Police Officer initiated a traffic stop the afternoon of April 19th on an SUV traveling 97 miles per hour in a 70 zone on Interstate 80 westbound near mile marker 92. Upon stopping the vehicle, the occupants were seen jumping around and changing seats. Once all three occupants were detained, the officer could smell and see marijuana from outside the vehicle.

During a probable cause search of the vehicle, $6,000 in cash was found in the glovebox, along with a plastic baggie and marijuana. An occupant of the SUV, 21-year old Devon Xavier Skerritt claimed the items belonged to him. In the rear of the vehicle, officers found a black backpack containing $2,000 cash, a large baggie that allegedly once held marijuana, and small baggie of pot. 26-year old Rashaad Markel Jones, another passenger in the SUV, claimed that property was his. Officers also found $1,000 in cash in another bag Jones owned. The third occupant, 24-year old Darnell Jerome Sanders, told officers that while being pulled over, he was smoking marijuana.

All three men admitted they were on their way to Colorado for April 20th (420) activities. They said they had smoked all their pot on the drive, and were going to buy more in Colorado. Skerritt and Jones were charged with felony counts of Possession with the Intent to Deliver. They were released later on $5,000 bond, each. Sanders was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was later released on $1,000 bond.

Two southwest Iowa teens were injured during an ATV rollover accident Saturday night, in Page County. Sheriff’s officials say the crash happened about one mile south and west of New Market, just before 8-p.m. The driver of the ATV, 13-year old Brody Mattes, and his passenger, 15-year old Blas Rendon, both of Shenandoah, suffered undisclosed injuries. Mattes was transported to the Clarinda Regional Health Care Center (CRHC) and later flown by LifeNet helicopter to the UNMC in Omaha. Rendon was transported to CRHC.

An investigation showed that Mattes was operating a 2015 Polaris ATV southbound in the 2200 block of Xavier Place.  Mattes said that he attempted to make a turn at a high rate of speed and locked the brakes up.  The ATV rolled, ejecting Mattes and Rendon. The machine is owned by Ed Johnson of rural Clarinda.

The accident remains under investigation. The Page County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by numerous Fire and EMS personnel.

A traffic stop Friday evening in Clarinda resulted in the arrest of 21-year old Alec Scott Bawek, of Clarinda. The Page County K9 “Lucas” was deployed during the traffic stop, and indicated on the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle.

Bawek was taken into custody for Possession of a controlled Substance and Possession of drug Paraphernalia.  He was later released on $1,000 bond.

Alex Bawek

MASON CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Mason City mom accused of making her kids sleep in a feces-covered room has been given four years of probation. Mason City television station KIMT reports that 26-year-old Alexis Martinez was given a deferred judgment at her sentencing Monday. Under a deferred judgment, the conviction will be removed from her record if she successfully completes the terms of her probation.

Martinez had pleaded guilty to one count of felony neglect of a dependent person. Prosecutors dropped two other counts in exchange for her plea. Court documents say Martinez forced her children, ages 2, 4 and 6, in late August to sleep for a week in a room that had feces on the walls and floor.

The Glenwood Police Department reports four people were arrested recently, on drug charges. On Saturday, 33-year old Shawn Richter, of Malvern, and 23-year old Kadie Clark, of Glenwood, were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Their bonds were set at $1,300 each.

22-year old Dylan Conn, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd offense. His bond was set at $5,000. And, 20-year old Bailey Taylor, of Glenwood, was arrested Sunday for Gathering, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.,

On Friday, 23-year old Bubba Mitchell, of Emerson, was arrested for providing false identification information and interference with official acts. His bond was set at $600.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 20-year old Jacob D. Johnson, of Atlantic, was arrested Saturday. Johnson was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense and Driving While License Revoked. He was booked into the Cass County Jail.