TIPTON, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa trooper pointed his gun at and knocked down a motorcyclist for no apparent reason during a traffic stop, then falsely charged the man with eluding law enforcement. Dash camera video released Monday shows then-Iowa State Patrol officer Robert Smith pulling over motorcyclist Bryce Yakish for speeding on Sept. 25, 2017.

What appears to be a routine stop escalates immediately when Smith runs out of his car with his gun drawn and strikes Yakish in his helmet. The force knocked the 150-pound Yakish backward and onto his motorcycle, and both fell to the ground. Yakish is repeatedly heard complaining of neck pain.

Cedar County Sheriff Warren Wethington has cited the case as among the reasons he has refused to book all suspects arrested by Smith. He says the video shows “pretty damning” evidence of excessive force and misconduct.

Smith now works as an officer in Durant. The Cedar County attorney’s office released the video Monday in response to records requests.

The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education is set to meet 5:30-p.m. Wednesday in the High School Media Center. Among the items on their agenda is action on the following resignations:

• Cindy Nichols, Musical Assistant
• Tony Wiley, High School Social Studies Teacher
• Kathleen Wendt, Washington Elem. Nigh Custodian.

And, the following contracts or Letters of Assignment:

• Michael Applegate, STEM Coordinator & Teacher.
• Connor Larson, HS PE/Weights Teacher; MS Football Coach & Asst. HS Wrestling Coach.
• Jeremy Blake, Freshman Volleyball Coach.
• Tricia Nicewanger, HS Spanish Club Sponsor.

The Atlantic School Board will also act on a contract with FRK Architects, with regard to the Athletic Facility Improvements. The current timeline is as follows:

• August 2019: Construction document approval
• Sept. 2019: Construction commences.
• Substantial Completion date or dates:
  • Trojan Bowl projected completion – Sept., 2020
  • HS Stadium projected completion – March, 2021.
  • Baseball/Softball Complex projected completion – April, 2021.

Other, “milestone dates” have yet to be determined. In other business, the Board will act on Investment of Bond Proceeds, in the amount of $154,077.50, including: placing $3-million in a Money Market Account at 2.02% interest at Rolling Hills Bank; Placing $3,544, 152 in 1st Whitney Bank & Trust at 2% interest and $3.395-million in a 12 month CD at $2.10%. The District’s bond counsel has indicated those moves would provide the District with more than $6.54-million of principle to be used for the project until 7/1/2020.

The Board will also act on a pay application for the Washington Elementary parking lot. Most of the work done in the dropoff/pickup lane is complete now, and the excavation of the parking lot is near completion, with some large concrete pours to follow. And, the Atlantic School Board will act on approving an agreement allowing the YMCA to take on the role of SWIFS (Southwest Iowa Family Services), now that the Wickman Building has been paid-off.

The 501(C)3 that was created (SWIFS) in order to secure the loan and pay-off the building, wishes to dissolve, now that their mission is complete. The only difference with the agreement, is that the USDA is no longer involved, due to the completion of the loan.

As a follow up to Sunday’s officer involved shooting in Leon, the DCI today (Monday), released additional information including the identity of the officer and the driver: On July 7th, 2019, at 3:08 a.m., Leon Police Officer John Thomas stopped a vehicle driven by 55-year old Patrick Bauer of Marshfield, Missouri. During the stop, Mr. Bauer approached Officer Thomas, who was seated in his marked police vehicle. Mr. Bauer sprayed Officer Thomas with a chemical agent, which is commonly referred to as “mace”. After being sprayed, Officer Thomas fired multiple rounds from his handgun, striking Mr. Bauer.

At the scene, law enforcement and emergency medial responders provided medical attention to Officer Thomas and Mr. Bauer. Officer Thomas was released from the scene. Mr. Bauer was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital, where his condition is currently unknown.

There is no known video recording of this incident. Officer Thomas was not wearing a body camera and his vehicle was not outfitted with a video camera. Officer Thomas is on paid administrative leave.

DCI agents will continue to gather the facts surrounding the shooting. The findings will be forwarded to the Decatur County Attorney’s Office. This process may take several weeks. No additional information will be released concerning this investigation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is the new president of the National Association of Secretaries of State, a professional organization for top state election officials.

Pate was sworn in July 3 at the group’s annual meeting in New Mexico and will serve as the NASS president through July 2020.

Pate is the second Iowa official to lead the group since its founding in 1904. The first was Melvin Synhorst in 1960.

Pate says he will make election security his top priority. He says the group’s mission for 2020 is to ensure “the sanctity of the vote is protected at every level, from the smallest county to the largest state.”

Pate’s colleagues from other states also voted to award him the NASS IDEAS award for his election cybersecurity efforts.

WAUKEE, Iowa (AP) — Slips, slides and an injury have prompted the Des Moines suburb of Waukee to close its new splash pad.

The city said Friday in a Facebook post that the splash pad at Fox Creek Park was being shut down for a safety review. City spokeswoman Summer Evans told The Des Moines Register that one person required an ambulance ride to medical care after slipping at the pad.

The city held a grand opening for the pad on June 25.

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a man was hospitalized after a fireworks explosion in northeast Iowa. The explosion occurred Saturday afternoon at a mobile home park in New Hampton.

The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office says the man was setting off fireworks, and they ignited flammable material in his shed, causing the blast.

The 22-year-old man was taken to a hospital. His name hasn’t been released. A police officer who responded to the scene was treated for smoke inhalation.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports numerous arrests took place over the past few days. At around 12:25-a.m. Sunday, 20-year old Blaine Michael Clark, of Glenwood, was arrested for Driving Under Suspension (DUS).

51-year old John Merrill Meyers, of Glenwood, was arrested Saturday afternoon, for Assault causing bodily injury, and 5th Degree Criminal Mischief. Early Saturday morning, 33-year old Kari Jean Peterson, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. And, 40-year old Tony Lynn Keller, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred (DWB).

Friday night, 45-year old Patrick Michael Marshall, of Bellevue, NE., was arrested in Mills County for OWI/1st Offense. 42-year old Gabriel Angel Rodriguez, of Phoenix, AZ, was arrested Friday evening for DUS. And, 19-year old River Jordan Studey, of Glenwood, was arrested early Friday morning for “Accommodation/Marijuana.”

On Thursday: 37-year old Randall Eric Crawford, Jr., of Sidney, was arrested for Driving While Revoked; 40-year old Christina Mae Robbins, of Glenwood, was arrested for OWI/1st offense and Assault on a Peace Officer.

And, as previously reported, five people were taken into custody over a 24-hour period Wednesday and Thursday, on numerous burglary and theft charges.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office, Monday (Today), said there has been a large quantity of property recovered during recent search warrants. If you have reported items as stolen since the flood this spring, please contact the Mills County Sheriff’s Office to set up a time to go through and identify any property that may be yours.

Any kind of proof of ownership is highly encouraged. If you have had items stolen and not reported it to the Sheriff’s Office, please make a theft report prior to setting up a time to go through the stolen property.

(Radio Iowa) – Statistics from the Iowa Department of Health show a 33-percent drop in opioid-related deaths in 2018. The state went from 206 deaths in 2017 to 137 last year. Health Department Opioid Initiatives Director, Kevin Gabbert, says reasons include an increase in the overdose reversal drug Narcan.

He says the use of a prescription drug monitoring program had also helped, along with more addiction treatment programs.

The 137 deaths in 2018 marks a five year low for opioid-related deaths. Iowa has one of the lowest rates of opioid-related deaths in the country.