Authorities in Pottawattamie County have identified the Sheriff’s Deputies who were shot during the escape of a prisoner late Monday morning. Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody said in a Press Release that “On Monday, May 1, 2017 at approximately 1055 hours two Pottawattamie County, Iowa Deputies, 43-year old Mark Burbridge  and 59-year old Pat Morgan transported two prisoners from the Pottawattamie County Courthouse and arrived at the Pottawattamie County Jail. As deputies Burbridge and Morgan began the transfer into the jail, one of the prisoners, 23-year old Wesley Williams Correa Carmenaty assaulted both deputies. Correa Carmenaty obtained one of the deputies’ firearms and shot both deputies. Correa Carmenaty fled the scene in the Pottawattamie County Jail transport van – driving through closed garage door attached to the jail.

Deputy Burbridge succumbed to his injuries. He was a 12-year veteran of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Morgan is a 10-year veteran of the Pott. County Sheriff’s Department. He was listed in stable condition at an Omaha hospital, and is being treated for gunshot wounds to his lower torso.

A third person, 30-year old Jerry Brittain, a resident of Council Bluffs, was being treated at an Omaha hospital for a non-life threatening gunshot would to his neck. And, 33-year old Amy Kanger, a resident of Glenwood, who was the victim of a car-jacking during the escape, did not suffer any physical injuries.

Authorities says as the escape unfolded, at the intersection of 16th and Big Lake Rd, Correa Carmenaty stopped the van and attempted to car jack an S-10 pickup truck. Correa Carmenaty confronted the driver, Jerry Brittain, ultimately shooting him once before fleeing the scene again in the transport van. The passenger in the S-10 was not injured.

Council Bluffs officers found the transport van abandoned at the intersection of 2500 Avenue I a few minutes later. Amy Kanger, who was driving a black 2015 Nissan Sentra in the area of 2500 Avenue I,  saw the transport van up on the grass, Kanger stopped to see if anyone was injured. Correa kidnapped Ms. Kanger at gunpoint, forcing her back into her Nissan. At approximately 11:15 a.m. Correa released Ms. Kanger at the R & L Liquor store 5825 N 30th St., where Ms. Kanger notified Omaha authorities of the carjacking.

The suspect and stolen vehicle were located by a Omaha Police Officer traveling eastbound on Ames Ave at 31st Ave.  The vehicle turned south on 30th from Ames Ave and a Gang Unit officer advised they were behind the vehicle in an unmarked vehicle.  During the subsequent pursuit, an Omaha officers got behind the vehicle at 30th & Sprague Street.  The suspect drove south on 30th St., west on Cuming St., did a U turn at Saddle Creek and Cuming St., traveled back east on Cuming St.  Stop sticks were deployed at 40th & Cuming St., 36th & Cuming St. and 30th & Cuming St.  The vehicle did not run over any of the stop sticks.  The suspect attempted to enter I480 South when it collided with the brick wall at Cuming St. & I480 entrance ramp.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

A medic was called to the scene but the suspect declined treatment.  The suspect was transported to Central Station.  Numerous agencies, NSP, DCSO, K-9, Traffic Unit, Gang Unit, U.S. Marshals, Co Bluffs and Pott Co representatives were on scene.  Correa Carmenaty was booked into the Douglas County Jail for kidnapping, use of a weapon to commit a felony, felon in possession of a firearm, felony operating a vehicle to avoid arrest, and fugitive from justice – pending charges from Iowa authorities.

Deputy Mark Burbridge

Deputy Pat Morgan

One of two Pottawattie County Sheriff’s Deputy has died at a local hospital this (Monday) morning following a jail break and shooting at the Pott. County Jail. Multiple media outlets are reporting the Deputy was shot when an inmate who had just been sentenced to 55-years in jail, escaped the jail by crashing a jail van through garage door and leading authorities on a chase into Nebraska, where he was caught after the suspect earlier abandoned the van and car jacked another vehicle, which he then crashed.

Authorities have acknowledged that an inmate, Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, stole the transport van and crashed out of the Pottawattamie County Jail around 11 a.m. Monday. In addition to the two Deputies who were shot, a third person was said to have been transported to Creighton Medical Center. A report on their condition was not immediately available.

Authorities say the van was abandoned a few blocks away, where the inmate either met an accomplice or carjacked someone’s car. He then drove over the Missouri River into Omaha, Nebraska. It’s unclear whether the inmate was alone and still in the same vehicle when he crashed in Omaha to end the high-speed police chase.

Correa-Carmenaty was being held in the Pott. County Jail on charges of 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and 1st Degree Robbery.

MILFORD, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a northwest Iowa man has died after exchanging gunfire with police officers. The Iowa Department of Public Safety on Monday says Milford police officers were called Sunday night to a problem at a home. As officers approached the home, a man inside fired several shots and a Milford officer returned fire while retreating to safety.

Officers tried for several hours to make contact with the person inside and finally entered the home about midnight. Officers found 52-year-old Robert Brunner dead in the home. An autopsy is planned.

The officer who fired the shot has been placed on administrative leave, as is the department’s policy in such shootings. The officer’s name wasn’t released.

Afton Police Chief John Coulter reports his Department has been contacted by a local resident concerning a consumer scam phone call. The caller says they are from Publishers Clearing House and are ready to deliver your award and claim that they are waiting in a neighboring town. Coulter says “This is a scam and people should just hang up on the caller.”

DO NOT answer any questions or provide any personal information to the caller. The Afton resident did hang up on the caller and did not experience in loss of funds or credit information.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s attorney general has concluded that Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will not have the authority to appoint a lieutenant governor when she replaces Gov. Terry Branstad. Reynolds is preparing to become governor when Branstad resigns to become U.S. ambassador to China in coming weeks.

Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller said in a legal opinion Monday that Reynolds will assume the duties of an elected governor through January 2019 but won’t have the power to appoint a new lieutenant.

Miller’s office had said in December that it agreed with Reynolds and Branstad that she would have the power to choose a new no. 2. The reversal is likely to infuriate Republicans and could have significant consequences for the 2018 election in which Reynolds is expected to seek a four-year term.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — An inmate who escaped from a western Iowa jail has been captured after crashing a stolen vehicle during a police chase in neighboring Nebraska. Authorities have acknowledged that an inmate, Wesley Correa-Carmenaty, stole a transport van and crashed out of the Pottawattamie County Jail around 11 a.m. Monday. According to media reports, two deputies were shot but were listed in fair condition at a local hospital. A third person was transported to Creighton Medical Center. A report on their condition was not immediately available.

Authorities say the van was abandoned a few blocks away, where the inmate either met an accomplice or carjacked someone’s car. He then drove over the Missouri River into Omaha, Nebraska. It’s unclear whether the inmate was alone and still in the same vehicle when he crashed in Omaha to end the high-speed police chase.

Correa-Carmenaty was being held in the Pott. County Jail on charges of 1st Degree Murder, Attempted Murder, and 1st Degree Robbery. He was scheduled to be sentenced today (Monday).

The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports two arrests. This (Monday) morning, 24-year old Tanor Devon Jimmison, of Clarinda, was arrested on a Linn County (Iowa) Warrant for Revocation of probation.  Jimmison was arrested at the Page County Courthouse and unable to post the $5000. He remained in the jail pending transportation to Linn County.

And, last Thursday evening, 27-year old Cody Robert Cordell, of New Market, was arrested by Page County Deputies in Clarinda, following a traffic stop. Cordell was charged with Driving under suspension (a serious misdemeanor), Theft 2nd (a class D felony), and Possession of drug paraphernalia (a simple misdemeanor).  He was booked into the Page County Jail and later posted $5000 bond before being released, pending further court appearances.

Jimmison

Cordell

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past few days. At around 8:30-a.m. today (Monday), 30-year old Lisa Marie Riskowski, of Exira, was arrested on an outstanding Audubon County warrant for Child Endangerment. The charge stems from an investigation into an incident that occurred in the 300 block of W. Washington Street, in Exira, whereby Riskowski allegedly allowed a registered sex offender to reside at her home where minor children were present. Riskowski was brought to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before a magistrate. Her preliminary hearing was set for May 18th.

At around 12:40-a.m. Sunday, 20-year old Zen Henry Gross, of Atlantic, was arrested in Audubon County for OWI/1st offense, following a traffic stop. Gross was later released after appearing before the magistrate, with his preliminary hearing also set for May 18th.

20-year old Verlyn Duane Richardson, Jr., of Ankeny, was arrested Saturday night in Audubon County, for Possession of Marijuana/1st offense, two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Driving While Barred. His arrest was the result of a traffic stop on Highway 71 at Littlefield Drive. Richardson was being held in the Audubon County Jail on $2,000 bond.

And, Friday evening, 32-year old Amanda Sue Wicker, of Harlan, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana/3rd offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The charges stem from a traffic stop on Highway.

(12-p.m. News)

Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater reports a Cass County man was arrested last Wednesday (April 26th), on two counts of Harassment in the 3rd Degree. 27-year old Charles Ray Edwards, III, of Atlantic, was arrested at around 10:30-p.m. by Adair Police in Adair. He was released that same night on $3,000 bond.

46-year old Andre Lamont Sewell, of Stuart, was arrested April 24th by Stuart Police, on a charge of Domestic Abuse Assault/2nd offense, following an incident in an apartment complex parking lot involving a female and her children. A Deputy arriving on the scene noted Sewell appeared to be intoxicated and had a strong odor of alcohol coming from him.

And, on April 28th, an Iowa State Patrol Trooper responded to a report a Ford F-250 Super Duty pickup with construction lights on top and a logo on the doors, was all over the road on Interstate 80 eastbound. The vehicle was located the vehicle near the Adair Exit and eventually pulled over at about mile marker 85. The Trooper, who observed the truck swerving all over the lanes prior to it being pulled over, said he smelled an odor of alcohol emitting from inside the truck.

A half consumed bottle of tequila was laying on the front passenger floorboard. The driver, 49-year old Ramon Guerrero Gonzalez, of Des Moines, admitted he has consumed three, 16-ounce beers. The man failed the Field Sobriety Test and a Preliminary Breath Test indicated his blood alcohol level was .183%, or more than twice the legal limit. A test at the Adair County Jail resulted in a reading of .163%. Gonzalez was arrested for OWI/1st offense and later released on $1,000 bond.

Sheriff Vandewater said also, 25-year old Taylor Jay Edelman, of Adair, was arrested April 26th, for Simple Assault. He was later released on $300 bond.