Law enforcement officers around Iowa are reporting a dramatic rise in the use and distribution of one of the most dangerous and addictive illegal drugs – heroin.

Paul Feddersen

Paul Feddersen, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE), says heroin seizures rose from less than 500 grams in 2013 to over 200,000 grams in 2014. DNE agents believe much of the heroin is coming to Iowa from Chicago.

“Most of the seizures are in eastern Iowa,” Feddersen said. “The main counties are Johnson, Linn and Scott Counties. So, heroin is coming to Iowa, it is here.” The rise in the abuse of prescription painkillers is tied to the rise in heroin use, according to Feddersen. “Many people start out with prescription drugs, then eventually move on to heroin because heroin is cheaper, more available and it’s a better high,” Feddersen said.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reports there were 20 heroin-related overdose deaths in the state last year. That’s more than double the amount in any previous year over the past decade. Overdose deaths from prescription pain relievers, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, have also been rising in Iowa – with 77 such deaths in 2014.

(Radio Iowa)

A southwest Iowa man whose police officer wife was shot and killed this spring may find himself on the fast-track to getting U-S citizenship. Hector Orozco, of Council Bluffs, is an immigrant from Mexico and has legal status. His wife, Kerrie Orozco was a Walnut, Iowa, native and an Omaha police officer who was fatally shot in May while serving an arrest warrant. A bill being introduced in Congress would allow the surviving spouses of first-responders killed in the line of duty to more easily gain citizenship. Nebraska Congressman Brad Ashford, of Omaha, is sponsoring the measure and says it’s getting a good response.

“We just have to reach out and do our work. That’s what legislating is all about,” Ashford says. “We’ll take what time it takes to get a good number, hopefully, of members to sign on to the bill and then move forward.” The legislation is based on current American policy for the surviving spouses of military personnel killed in combat. It allows those spouses to apply for expedited citizenship. Congressman Ashford says he’s hoping to offer the bill in the U-S House within a week or two.

“The next step is to get signatories on the bill and introduce it before the recess on August 1st,” Ashford says. “Then, it would go to a committee, probably the Judiciary Committee. I think the more signatories we get on the bill, the better chance we have of getting it out this year and that would be the goal.” Hector left Mexico in 1999, at the age of 17, and now works as a supervisor for a lawn care company in Omaha. He married Kerrie in 2011.

He has applied for citizenship, but the wait could stretch to six years. Hector has two children from a previous marriage, while he and Kerrie also had a child, Olivia, born in February three months premature. Kerrie was to begin maternity leave the day after she was fatally shot. The suspect in the shooting was also killed.

(Radio Iowa)

Two Harrison County residents were arrested last Saturday in Cass County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old Heidi Lynn Murphy, and 23-year old Drew Ashton Gagnon, both of Logan, were arrested on District Court warrants for Probation Violation. Both remain held at the Cass County Jail on $1000 bond each.

And, on Tuesday, an Atlantic man, 19-year old Blake Michael Zweck, turned himself in to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, on a District Court warrant for Probation Violation. Zweck remains held at the Cass County Jail on $10,000 bond.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Tuesday (July 14th), of 45-year old Philip Jesse Gehling, of Atlantic. Gehling turned himself in at the Cass County Jail on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for (felony) Burglary in the 1st Degree, (felony) Going Armed With Intent, Domestic Abuse Assault, and Carrying Weapons. He was booked in at the Cass County Jail and later released on $20,000 bond.

That same day, 28-year old Nicole Amaris Bittner, of Avoca, was arrested on an Atlantic Police Department warrant for felony Theft 1st Degree. Bittner was taken to the Cass County Jail, and released Wednesday on her own recognizance to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports deputies responded early this (Thursday) to a reported stabbing incident and shots fired, in Anita. The call came in just before 1-a.m.  When authorities arrived on the scene outside of Huffy’s Bar in Anita, it was determined no stabbing actually occurred, but a firearm was discharged outside the bar.

31-year old Erich S. Johnson, of West Point, NE, was taken into custody on a felony charge of Possession and Control of Firearms with a (prior) Domestic Assault Conviction, an aggravated misdemeanor charge of Carrying Weapons, and Reckless Use of a Firearm (a simple misdemeanor). Johnson was brought to the Cass County Jail where he remains held on $5000 bond. The Adair County Sheriff’s Office assisted Cass County Sheriff’s Office in the investigation.