WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa attorney general’s office says the Waterloo police chief can keep that post and serve as a Black Hawk County supervisor, if he were to win election. Chief Dan Trelka said after the opinion was released Tuesday that he was pleased by it and planned to pursue his candidacy. He announced plans last month to run as a Republican in the June 5 primary. Two seats are up for election, and Democrats have held all five seats for several years. So far Trelka is the only Republican to declare his intention.

Assistant Attorney General Michael Bennett says in his opinion that Trelka’s holding both positions “may raise significant conflict of interest issues requiring recusal” when such conflicts arise. Trelka says he would do so.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports 22-year old Austin Van Aernam, of Atlantic, turned himself-in to authorities, Tuesday. He was wanted on a Cass County warrant for Willful Injury-Causing Bodily Injury. Van Aernam was booked into the Cass County Jail.

Creston Police, early this (Wednesday) morning, arrested 26-year old Jeffrey Schaefer, of Orient, on warrants related to Violation of Probation on original charges of Lascivious Acts with a Child, and Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree. Schaefer was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. at the Union County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), where he was being held while awaiting a bond hearing. Creston Police report 41-year old Joel Gross, of Creston, was arrested today at around 2:15-a.m., for Public Intoxication. He was being held in the Union County LEC on a$300 bond.

At around 11:45-p.m. Tuesday, 29-year old Kayla Hoffman, of Creston, was arrested on a charge of Criminal Mischief in the 5th degree. She was later released on a $300 bond. And, at around 7:30-p.m. Tuesday, 28-year old Rachel Colburn was arrested in Creston for Domestic Assault. She was being held in the Adams County Jail, while awaiting a bond hearing.

Creston Police said also, at around 10:30-p.m. Tuesday, someone attempted to break into a residence in the 200 block of N. Cedar Street. The front door of the residence sustained about $300 damage.

ORANGE CITY, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa man and wife have been sentenced for the beatings of an 11-year-old boy. Sioux County District Court records show 36-year-old Matthew Spaans was sentenced Monday to four years in prison, and 34-year-old Nina Spaans was given two years of probation and a suspended prison sentence of four years. Both had pleaded guilty to four counts of child endangerment. Prosecutors dropped several other counts in exchange for their pleas. The two live in Hawarden.

Records say that at least three times since September, Matthew Spaans beat his stepson with his hands, a 56-inch sword and another item, severely bruising the boy. The documents say the boy was told to make up stories about his bruises or his next beating would be worse.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the name of a woman whose body was found in a north Warren County home. She’s been identified as 25-year-old Mercedes Wathen, of Cambridge. Officers and medics were called to the home just south of Des Moines around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

An 18-year-old man has been taken into custody as a material witness. Online court records don’t show that he’s been charged. Authorities have not said how Wathen died but have characterized the case as a homicide.