A central Iowa police officer and his K-9 partner have been honored with an award for a case that helped uncover a massive, nationwide drug operation. Urbandale Police Officer Shane Taylor and his German Shepherd, Sabre, were called to a weighing station along Interstate 80 in Dallas County on October 15, 2011. Officers were investigating what appeared to be a hidden floor in an enclosed trailer hauling a motorcycle. Sabre “alerted” on the odor of narcotics near the front of the trailer.

K-9 “Sabre”

“Once we were able to get the floor pulled up, there was a duffle bag containing $180,000 (in cash),” Taylor said. “It was from the sale of narcotics on the East Coast and they were transporting the money back to California.” The man who was hauling the trailer was arrested. About a week later, a truck hauling a horse trailer – also traveling from the East Coast to California – was pulled over near Atlantic. Taylor said that trailer also had a false floor, but nothing was found inside. A tracking device was placed on the trailer, which went back to California and then to Reno, Nevada.

“She was pulled over by a state trooper (in Reno) who was made aware of what was going on with this trailer,” Taylor said. “There was 250 pounds of marijuana – over $1 million dollars worth – in this trailer.” The driver of the truck was identified as the mother-in-law of the man who was arrested earlier in Iowa. Taylor said authorities discovered the family-run marijuana operation in California financed the purchase of a $600,000 home and nearly a dozen expensive vehicles. Officer Taylor and Sabre were recently awarded the “2012 Case of the Year” during an annual conference of the Heart of America Police Dog Association.

Authorities have rescued six injured and malnourished horses from a southwest Iowa property. According to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, the horses were being “significantly neglected” and were confined to a less than one-acre property in Lorimor, which is in Union County. The horses are now at what is called the “Rescue Ranch” in central Iowa. A “cruelty investigator” for the Animal Rescue League says the horses “had been living without food, shelter or veterinary care for an undetermined amount of time” and the animals “face a long road to recovery.”

Once they’re healthy, the horses will be available for adoption. There already are 13 horses available for adoption at the Animal Rescue League’s facility in Des Moines. In the past 12 months, the organization has been asked by law enforcement to care for two dozen horses.

(Radio Iowa)

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three people were arrested Tuesday, on separate charges. At around 12:30-a.m., 21-year old Zachery Donaldson, of Glenwood, was arrested on a Possession of Drug Paraphernalia charge. His bond was set at $300. Later that day, 25-year old Shawn Patrick Nosekabel, Jr., of Malvern, was arrested on Main Street in Malvern, on a warrant for Failure to Appear on an OWI charge. His bond was set at $1,500. And, at around 8:30-p.m. Tuesday, 31-year old Toby Lynn Merritt, of  Glenwood, was taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office, on a charge of Harassment in the 1^st degree. Bond was set at $1,000.

An Atlantic woman apparently is becoming familiar with Cass County Jail facilities. On Monday, Police in Atlantic arrested 33-year old Essex Mullins, on a charge of shoplifting (Theft in the 5th degree). She plead guilty to the charge that same day and was ordered by the court to repay her victim.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Mullins was arrested on charges of Interference with Official Acts, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Disorderly Conduct. She was booked…again…into the Cass County Jail.

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is ordering all flags in the state to be flown at half-staff from 5 p.m. Friday, November 30, to 8 a.m. on Monday, December 3, to honor 33-year old Sgt. Joseph A. Richardson, of Algona, who died while on patrol with the U.S. Army in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on November 16, 2012.

Sgt. Joseph Richardson

Sgt. Richardson’s funeral will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Algona. Maj. Gen. Timothy Orr, adjutant general of the Iowa National Guard, will be in attendance to represent the Branstad/Reynolds administration.

The governor’s directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the governor’s executive order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the state Capitol building and on flag displays in the Capitol complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.