An attempted traffic stop Friday night in Council Bluffs led to a chase, a crash, and eventual arrest. Council Bluffs Police say 42-year old Jason Thacker, of Council Bluffs faces a charge of Driving While Intoxicated/2nd offense, and other charges, after he was found hiding in a grassy area just north of where the vehicle he was driving collided with another vehicle near the Veterans Memorial Highway and N. 24th Street.

Jason Thacker

The incident began at around 8:30-p.m., Friday. Authorities say officers on routine patrol in the area of Richland Ave and Veterans Memorial Highway (VMH) observed a white Camaro traveling west on VMH at a high rate of speed. A traffic stop was attempted at 19th Street, but the driver of the Camaro (later identified as Thacker) fled from the area, continuing westbound. No attempt was made to pursue the Camaro and the officer shut off his emergency equipment.

The Camaro ran a red light as it sped into the intersection of South 24th Street and VMH, colliding with another vehicle that was making a left turn, north onto 24th Street, from eastbound VMH. The driver of the other vehicle, 31-year old Justina Nolte, of Council Bluffs,was not injured, and refused treatment at the scene.

Officers arrived shortly after the accident and found Thacker left the scene leaving his passenger, 45-year old Keri Flores, of Omaha NE, in the vehicle. Officers located Thacker a short time later. Neither he, nor Flores, were injured.

As officers investigated the incident they found Thacker to be intoxicated. Field Sobriety Tests were administered that confirmed their suspicions.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Friday afternoon, said a Red Oak man was arrested Thursday morning, for Driving Under Suspension. 37-year old Kevin Duane Staley was pulled over and taken into custody at around 3:50-a.m. Thursday, near 390th Street and Jamison Road, in Mills County. His bond was set at $300.

And, an Emerson man reported to the Sheriff’s Office Thursday afternoon, an incident of Theft in the 4th degree. The incident took place in the vicinity of 390th Street. No other details were provided.

Police in Red Oak Friday evening arrested a 66-year old Red Oak man for Public Intoxication. Dean Lee Adams was arrested at around 7:30-p.m. and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where his bond was set at $300.

Today (Saturday) is “National Prescription Drug Take Back Day”, and state health and safety officials encourage you to check for unused drugs in your medicine cabinet. The Associate Director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, Dale Woolery, says getting rid of the prescription drugs properly can help cut abuse.

“More and more are being prescribed and used, and that means there are more leftovers. And so, its spring, it’s a great opportunity to clean out the medicine cabinet and take back those unneeded medicines,” Woolery says. “Because that is the number one source of medications that get abuse. We have a growing opioid abuse and overdose problem in this state and in the country.” The pain killers know as opioid are one of the biggest concerns.

“Nationwide now we see 78 people dying every day of opioid overdoses,” according to Woolery. “So, it’s really important, this is one way all of us can help to reduce the opioid abuse problem — that’s getting rid of our unused medicines.” Woolery spoke Friday in front of a container set up in the lobby of the public safety building where people can bring in unused prescription drugs.

“This is the 11th semi-annual one-day effort where for four hours [today] twice a year, Iowans an other Americans have had an opportunity to take back their medications, “Woolery says. “But here in Iowa and elsewhere, we are trying to make it easier for everyone to take back their meds, so that you don’t have to hold onto them for six months. Statewide right now we have 82 permanent take back kiosks. Most of those are in local law enforcement centers, some are in pharmacies.”

More than 100 Iowa sites are signed up to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, most from 10:00 a-m until 2:00 p-m today. “It’s a no questions asked, just bring them in and dump then in the collection box. We would suggest that you take your name or identification off of them just to be safe,” Woolery says. You can find Saturday Take Back sites, permanent Take Back locations, educational materials and other related information at: odcp.iowa.gov/rxtakebacks.

Over the last ten National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, Iowans have safely disposed of nearly 30 tons of obsolete prescription drugs, or about three tons during each one-day event. According to the DEA, approximately 27-hundred-63 tons or five-point-five million pounds-of unused medicines have been collected nationally since the start of the Take Back campaign in 2010.

(Radio Iowa)

The 2016 Iowa legislative session is history. So, how could new state laws change your life? If you live in an apartment or rental home, your landlord must install a carbon monoxide detector. That’s because legislators passed a law requiring carbon monoxide alarms in existing rentals, plus any new home, apartment or condo that’s built after July 1st of 2018.

If you’re in prison on a non-violent drug conviction, you might be released early if Governor Branstad approves a bill legislators passed this week. If you want to have a silencer or suppressor on your gun, that is now legal in Iowa. There were a host of other issues legislators discussed this past year, but never wound up making law. Iowa’s medical marijuana law was not expanded.

The speed limit on Iowa interstates was not raised. Cell phone use while driving was not outlawed. You still cannot win the big prizes in fantasy sports leagues. And all those backyard fireworks displays are still illegal.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:10 a.m. CDT

WATERLOO – An Amber Alert issued just after 12-a.m. Saturday for a 15-year old black female allegedly abducted by 3 armed black men, was cancelled at 2:50-a.m. today. No other details are immediately available on the circumstances surrounding the cancellation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has adjourned its 2016 session with agreement over a roughly $7.35 billion budget, following days of private meetings that ultimately stopped an attempt by GOP lawmakers to remove state funding for Planned Parenthood. Members of the Democratic-controlled Senate and Republican-majority House sent remaining bills to Gov. Terry Branstad for approval.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Des Moines police have arrested a 15-year-old boy in connection to the fatal shooting of another teenager. Police announced Friday that they have charged the Des Moines resident with first-degree murder in the Wednesday shooting death of 17-year-old Kendall Foster. Authorities did not release the name of the suspect. Officers found Foster with a gunshot wound in his chest. He later died at a hospital.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Investigators are looking into an unusual claim of jury tampering in a high-stakes medical malpractice trial in which University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics recently avoided millions in damages. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Department is looking into allegations raised in a letter sent to the court last month.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Fire crews spent hours trying to contain a fire that destroyed a Cedar Falls Chinese restaurant. Firefighters responded Friday morning to a fire at the Great Wall restaurant near the University of Northern Iowa campus. No one was injured in the fire. Officials say the blaze was started in the kitchen by a cooking appliance, which caused flames to spread up a ventilation shaft. The restaurant’s roof collapsed just after noon.

An Amber Alert that was issued in Iowa at 12:06-a.m. today (Saturday), was cancelled at 2:52-a.m.  Earlier, authorities in eastern Iowa had said a 15-year old black female, Shakiya Kay Baker, from Waterloo, was abducted by three black males armed with guns.

No other details were immediately available on the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of the Amber Alert. There are currently NO active Amber Alerts in effect, in Iowa.

An Amber Alert that had been issued Thursday for a 17-year old white female and her alleged abductor, was cancelled shortly before 5:30 p.m. Friday, when the missing teen, Dominique Lloyd, and the suspect, 24-year old Michael Brad Knuth, were located in Tennessee.