Sheriff’s officials in Fremont County say a Nebraska man died Saturday, after a vehicle he was working on fell on top of him. 57-year old Earl Lee Schmidt, of Omaha, was found beneath a vehicle near a maintenance shop he owns at 2049 11th Street, in Bartlett. Deputies and emergency personnel extricated Schmitt from the vehicle and life saving measures were taken, but they were unsuccessful, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined Schmitt and another person were working on the vehicle when it shifted off of the jack stands and landed on Schmitt. The accident happened at around 2:15-p.m.,  Saturday.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – Police say an Iowa man fatally shot his girlfriend before taking his own life this weekend.  Council Bluffs Police Sgt. Chad Meyers said 38-year-old Stephony Metzger died Saturday morning in the bedroom of her mobile home.  Police say that after 42-year-old Terry Francis shot his girlfriend, he shot himself.

Francis and Metzger had dated for several years, but neighbor Jennifer Iwersen says Metzger had recently been trying to end the relationship.  Metzger had three children between the ages of 12 and 18.

The shooting was discovered after Metzger’s 18-year-old daughter called police Saturday morning around 10:15.

22-year-old Michah David Meloccaro of Woodbine was sentenced on Friday (Feb. 15, 2013) on the charge of unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.  US District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose sentenced Meloccaro to 30 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.  Meloccaro also had to forfeit two shotguns and ammunition he possessed and was ordered to pay $100 the the Crime Victim Fund.  Meloccaro is currently on release pending his serving location designation.

Meloccaro had plead guilty to the charge which arose out of an emergency medical call to his residence in Woodbine.  Meloccaro had accidently shot a friend at close range with a 12-guage shotgun.  The victim is currently recovering.  During response to that incident Harrison County Sheriff’s Deputies observed a marijuana growing operation at Meloccaro’s residence.  As part of his federal plea agreement Melocarro must also plead guilty in District Court to manufacturing marijuana.

The investigation was conducted by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The Harrison County Attorney’s Office also aided in this case, which was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

A Council Bluffs man was sentenced on Friday (February 15, 2013) in US District Court in Council Bluffs on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking.  28-year-old Clifford Arthur Ellis of Council Bluffs was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment and 5 years of supervised release following his release by District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose.  Ellis was sentenced to 60 months on the firearm charge and 175 months on the drug conspiracy charge.   The Court also ordered Ellis to forfeit the firearm and ammunition which he had possessed, and to pay a $200.00 special assessment for the Crime Victim Fund. Ellis remains in the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons facility at which he will serve his sentence.

Ellis had earlier plead guilty to the charges that arose out of an investigation by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force which began in mid-2011.  Ellis admitted responsibility for approximately 1.36 kilograms of methamphetamine. Ellis also regularly carried a loaded .45 caliber pistol, and then, later, a loaded 9mm pistol.

On January 4, 2012, Ellis and two other persons were arrested by Council Bluffs Police Officers in the course of the burglary of a truck parked in an apartment parking lot in Council Bluffs. The 9mm pistol was recovered from Ellis at that time.

On April 1, 2012, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper and Mills County Sheriff Deputies arrested Ellis and another person in Mills County carrying approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for distribution.

The investigation was conducted by the SouthWest Iowa Narcotics Task Force, the Council Bluffs, Iowa, Police Department, the Mills County Sheriff’s Department, and the Iowa State Patrol. The Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office and the Mills County Attorney’s Office also aided in this case, which was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.