A Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Deputy is being credited for locating a stolen SUV and arresting the driver last Thursday afternoon, in Council Bluffs. The Sheriff’s Department reports Deputy Eric Hempel was on routine patrol at around 2:30-p.m. on the Avenue G viaduct, when he noticed a GMC Yukon pass his vehicle. The deputy ran the license plate and learned the SUV had been reported stolen. He tried to stop the vehicle driven by 23-year old Marcus Allen Holstein, of Council Bluffs, but Holstein tried to evade the deputy by turning into an alley and then onto a street, with speeds reaching 80-miles per hour at times.

The deputy discontinued pursuit due to the risk to persons in a residential area. He later noticed the same SUV parked next to a gas pump at the Kwik Shop located at 36th and Avenue G. After he pulled in front of the vehicle, he saw Holstein get inside and attempt to put the vehicle in gear.

Deputy Hempel jumped on the SUV’s running board and reached through the driver’s side window to stop Holstein from leaving. A search of Holstein’s pockets revealed a small baggie of Meth hidden inside a flash light. The suspect was placed under arrest and brought to the Pott. County Jail, where he was charged with 2nd Degree Theft, Felony Eluding, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and for being a convicted felon escaping from custody.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cass County woman was arrested Saturday afternoon following a reported assault in Walnut. Officials say 28-year old Jessica Lynn Gross, of Atlantic, was charged with Assault Causing Injury, following the incident that took place at Haystacks Diner on Antique City Drive, in Walnut.

Deputies were dispatched at the restaurant at around 2:45-p.m. following a report of an assault in progress. Brandi Smith, of Walnut, reported to the deputy her sister, Jessica Gross, had just assaulted their other sister, 19-year old Mary Smith, of Casey, and then left the scene. Mary Smith was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic, for treatment of a cut to her forehead.

Atlantic Police, having been notified Jessica Gross was on her way back to Atlantic, located the woman on the western edge of the City, during a traffic stop. The Pott. County Deputy arrived not long afterward, and took Gross into custody on the assault charge.

(DES MOINES) – Today (Monday), Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds were joined at the Administration’s weekly press conference by the State’s Chief Information Officer Bob Von Wolffradt and the Director of the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management Mark Schouten in announcing the first ever Iowa Cybersecurity Strategy.

On Dec. 21, 2015, Gov. Branstad signed Executive Order 87 which directed executive branch agencies to work together to develop the Iowa Cybersecurity Strategy by July 1, 2016. The Cybersecurity Strategy was completed and presented to the governor’s office by July 1, as required. By implementing the recommendations outlined in the strategy, Iowa will be better able to not only respond to cybersecurity events, but also proactively mitigate risks for its citizens and government operations.

The Office of the Chief Information Officer was the lead agency in this effort and was assisted by the Department of Public Safety, Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Iowa Communications Network, and the Iowa National Guard. The State of Iowa Cybersecurity Strategy details the steps the State of Iowa needs to take to increase our resilience to cyberattacks. The strategy primarily focuses on lifeline critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transportation, and communication, and state government as it relates to the protection of digital government services and citizens.

The strategy also outlines recommendations in the areas of risk assessment, implementation of best practices, awareness training for state employees, public education, collaboration with the private sector and educational institutions, STEM education and training programs to foster an improved cybersecurity workforce, data breach reporting and notification requirements, and updating Iowa’s emergency response plan to specifically deal with the physical consequences of a cyberattack on our state’s infrastructure.

Hard copies of the Iowa Cybersecurity Strategy were handed out to reporters at the press conference. However, the strategy is currently being finalized for publishing online and the governor’s office will send out a press release when the online version is published.

Creston Police today (Monday) issued a report on recent arrests and incidents. Officials say early Sunday morning, 31-year old John Foster, of Creston, was arrested on two counts each of Public Intoxication 3rd or Subsequent offense, Harassment 1st degree, and Assault on Police Officer Causing Bodily Injury. Foster was also charged with Criminal Mischief/2nd degree, Interference with Official Acts and Interference with Official Acts with Injury. He was  being held in the Union County Jail on a $5000 bond.

Saturday night, Creston Police arrested 55-year old Robert Fleharty, of Creston, on a charge of Public Intoxication/2nd offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. Two people were arrested early Saturday morning, in Creston: 38-year old Brian Krauth, of Blockton, was arrested on charges of Driving While Revoked and OWI 1st. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond. And, 42-year old Dwain Ripperger, of Afton, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $1000 bond.

Friday night, Creston Police arrested 45-year old David Webb, of Creston, on a charge of Driving While Suspended. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $300 bond.

The Creston P-D also received three reports of Theft or vandalism. A resident in the 900 block of W. Jefferson Street reported Saturday morning that sometime between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, someone stole a Blackflag Bug Zapper from her residence. The loss was estimated at $60. Later that same morning, a resident of the 1000 block of N. Chestnut Street in Creston, reported that sometime between 11:30-a.m. Friday and 8:50-a.m. Saturday, someone had broken the back door of
her residence. The damage was estimated at $300. And, a resident in the 900 block of W. Montgomery Street in Creston reported to the Creston Police Department, that sometime between Friday and early Saturday morning, someone stole change from his vehicle while it was parked at his residence and several cans of used spray paint from his garage. The loss was estimated at $5.

The search for a three-year-old boy in Webster County came to a happy ending on Sunday. Volunteers spent three hours searching for the child in the area surrounding the Brushy Creek State Recreation Area south of Duncombe. TJ and Jennifer Vit reported that their son wandered away from their home. Fire department members from Dayton,Duncombe and Lehigh were joined by the Webster County sheriff’s deputies and Iowa Department of Natural Resources staff in the search. The boy was found safely as he emerged from a bean field near his home at about 6  p.m.

(Radio Iowa)