Atlantic Police Chief Steve Green reports one person was arrested Tuesday for allegedly operating a psychedelic mushroom growing operation. Green said 34-year old Joshua Mullen was taken into custody on a felony charge of Manufacturing a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance within 1,000-feet of a park. Additional charges are expected. Mullen was released by the magistrate on his own recognizance this (Wednesday) morning.

Psilocybe semilanceata (Magic Mushrooms) – Wikipedia photo

The arrest took place after a search warrant was executed at 311 W. 6th Street, in Atlantic. The mushrooms were allegedly stored in several large jars and aquariums. The search was conducted by officers with the Atlantic Police Department and deputies with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. Present at the time of the search was James Mullen and Joshua Mullen.

During the search, authorities discovered an active psilocybin mushroom growing operation, along with evidence of manufacturing psilocybin, or “magic” mushrooms, which create a psychedelic, or hallucinogenic effect, when ingested.

Three people were arrested Tuesday (Aug. 27th) on unrelated charges, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office says 34-year old Charles Conrad Campsey II, of Nebraska City, NE, was arrested at around 6:55-p.m. at the Interstate 29 northbound rest area, on a charge of Aggravated Domestic Assault. His bond was set at $7,000.

A little after 5-p.m., Tuesday, 22-year old Blake Thomas Rose, of Glenwood, was arrested following a traffic stop on 230th Street. Rose was taken into custody on a warrant charging him with three counts of Controlled Substance Violations, and Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Bond was set at $10,000.

And, 23-year old Patrick Neil Jack, of Malvern, was arrested at 11-a.m. Tuesday on 5th Street in Malvern, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. His bond was set at $300.

Many dog owners enjoy taking their furry friends with them everywhere they go, but it’s a bad idea in the type of extreme heat that’s blanketed Iowa this week. Josh Colvin is with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa. “Dog in cars…in general, it’s not illegal. But, when we’re talking about dogs in cars in heat like this, that is illegal,” Colvin says. “It takes only a matter of minutes for the car to really heat up.” Bianca Zaffarano, with the Veterinary Clinic at Iowa State University, says it takes only a few minutes for the situation to turn critical when a dog is left alone in a vehicle in 90-plus degree temperatures.

“If you pull up to a store on a hot day and you see an animal closed in a car, even with the windows cracked, you should call 911,” Zaffarano says. “You can then go in and tell the manager what’s going on and they can make an announcement to have the owner come back as quickly as possible to the car.” She says taking the pet along for the ride is not a treat when temperatures and humidity are this high. Zaffarano says unlike humans, dogs need to pant to keep themselves cool. In a stuffy car, they are unable to regulate their temperature and that, she says, can lead to death.

“By nature, they’ll seek a cool place or try to get out a window. Often, animals try and squeeze out of a window and when they can’t…that will increase their panic and heart rate and just escalate the problem quickly,” Zaffarano says. Colvin says it’s not even a good idea to take your dog on a walk on days likes these. The high heat can damage an animal’s heart.
“On top of that too, the pads of their feet can burn on sidewalks,” Colvin says.

(Radio Iowa)

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Department reports the arrest on Tuesday of 23-year old Rhiana Marie Christensen, of Cumberland. Christensen was arrested at around 3-p.m. on an outstanding Audubon County warrant. She’s been charged with Failure to Appear, on an original charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana. Christensen was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $1,250 bond, and is scheduled to appear in District Court on Tuesday, Sept. 3rd.

Sheriff’s officials said also, 26-year old Cale James Bolick, of Gray, turned himself-in to the Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, on an outstanding warrant for Revocation of Probation. He has since posted bond and was released. Bolick is also scheduled to appear in District Court, on Monday.