As part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, the Council Bluffs Police Department will participate in the event sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency. The event is designated as “Council Bluffs Operation Medicine Cabinet” and involves the collaboration of several community organizations, volunteers, and the City of Council Bluffs Recycling Center. The rain or shine event will be located at Walgreens, 535 East Broadway in Council Bluffs, on the west side of the store next to the drive‐through lanes on Saturday, April 30, 2016, between 10:00 am. and 2 pm.

Citizens are simply asked to drive through a designated lane, hand over their unused, expired prescription or over the counter drugs with no questions asked. You can drop off the drugs anonymously.

The Council Bluffs Police Department has helped organize and promote 12 Prescription Drug Drop Off events since 2010. The past events have collected more than 3,300 pounds of prescription drugs from more than 2, 000 residents. Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem and this drug drop off is a great opportunity for citizens of Council Bluffs and anyone else to help reduce this threat. Please clean out your medicine cabinets and make your home safe from potential
drug theft and abuse.

Medicines that remain in home cabinets are highly susceptible to theft, misuse or abuse. Prescription drug abuse in the U.S. is increasing at an alarming rate, as are the numbers of accidental poisonings and overdoses. Studies show many abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinets. In addition, many Americans do not know how to properly dispose of their unused medicines, often flushing them down the toilet or throwing them away, which are both potential safety and health hazards.

Police in Council Bluffs have identified the operator of a motorcycle that crashed Tuesday night during a pursuit. Officials say 18-year old Lance McCormick, of Carter Lake, died at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs following the crash that happened at around 10:19-p.m. Authorities are still looking for the driver of the other motorcycle involved.

According to Bluffs Police, the pursuit began when an officer with the Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Enforcement (MVE) Division attempted to stop two motorcycles on Big Lake Road, near the Pottawattamie County Jail. Both motorcycles eluded the officer and drove westbound on Nash Blvd at a high rate of speed. McCormick, who was driving a 2006 Yamaha, lost control of the motorcycle approximately 3 blocks west of the intersection of 16th Street and Nash Blvd.

The motorcycle went over the curb and stuck a fence separating the city street from the interstate. McCormick was ejected from the motorcycle. The second motorcycle fled the area. The MVE Officer witnessed the crash and immediately stopped and rendered aid. McCormick was not wearing a helmet. He had no identification on him, and the motorcycle was reported to have been stolen.

A hit and run accident was reported to Red Oak Police on Wednesday at 10:31am at the intersection of Highway 48 and Highway 34.  Upon arrival Officers spoke with Sarah Nicole Behrens who was driving a 2003 Dodge Stratus northbound on Highway 48 and stopped at the intersection with Highway 34 behind a semi-tractor trailer.  The Semi, which had a maroon cab and silver box trailer, backed into Behrens’ Dodge and then proceeded eastbound on Highway 34 without stopping.

Red Oak Police Officers and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputies were not able to locate the semi-tractor trailer and damage to the Dodge Stratus was estimated at $4,000.

Red Oak Police announced the arrest Wednesday of 21-year-old Tyler Christian Palmer of Red Oak for Driving while Revoked.  Palmer was arrested at 12:40pm at the intersection of N. 6th and E Corning Street.  Palemer was taken to the Montgomery County Jail and held on $300 cash bond.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers is warning business owners about the IRS phone scam that’s making rounds at both residences and businesses. Brothers said Businesses in Clarinda are receiving pre-recorded phone calls stating the IRS needs the owner to call back immediately at the number provided.

Brothers called the number and quickly determined the person he was speaking with was in a “Boiler room”-type call center in a foreign country. The Chief warns persons receiving these types of calls, NOT to return them. They are NOT from the IRS, and furthermore, the IRS would not conduct business in that manner.

The IRS handles matters through personal, confidential mail.

Sheriff’s deputies in Cass County arrested an Anita man Monday on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault (a Serious misdemeanor). 33-year old Ancherson Alvios William was taken to the Cass County Jail and released Tuesday on $1000 bond.

And, deputies responded to a two-vehicle accident this (Wednesday) morning, about two-miles east of Atlantic. Officials say the collision happened at around 7:30-a.m. on White Pole Road, at the intersection with 650th Street. A 2003 Ford Mustang owned and driven by 21-year old Tayler Michael Murphy, of Anita, was westbound on White Pole Road when it was struck by a 2007 Buick Terraza owned and driven by 62-year old Jacqueline Kay Stetzel, of Audubon. Stetzel was traveling east on White Pole Road and attempting to turn left onto 650th Street when the accident occurred. No injuries were reported. Damage to the vehicles amounted to $8.500.

Deputies cited Stetzel for Failure to Yield.