COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A transient was arrested following a brief standoff in Council Bluffs, Monday. The Council Bluffs Police Department says 29-year-old Kevin Richard Bequette was taken into custody at around 10:30-a.m., after the Omaha Metro Fugitive Task Force tracked Bequette to a residence and attempted to apprehend him on a warrant for a parole violation. The man is accused of locking himself inside a detached garage behind the home.

Authorities communicated with Bequette for about 45-minutes, during which he threatened to harm himself. At around 10:30-a.m., officers could smell smoke coming from the garage. They broke into the structure and took Bequette into custody without further incident. Authorities learned the man started a small fire in the garage, and there was evidence he had attempted to compromise a natural gas line inside the building. Damage to the garage was described as minimal.

Police Capt. Todd Weddum says Bequette was checked by medics at the scene, but he did not require any treatment. Weddum said Bequette was arrested for a parole violation related to earlier arson/theft and attempted burglary charges,  in addition to a warrant for 3rd  degree criminal mischief and Interference with official acts.

Bluffs police recovered two stolen cars on the property. Officials say an investigation continues with regard to the vehicles, and additional charges against Bequette are pending.

COON RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Coon Rapids Police have arrested a man accused of molesting two toddlers. 51-year old Scott Allen Warnke, of Coon Rapids, was arrested Thursday, and faces two counts of second-degree sexual abuse.

Warnke is accused of molesting the young girls while they visited his home in January. A witness recently told authorities that Warnke was alone with the girls at some point, and the girls were partially disrobed. The girls’ ages have not been released.

The Carroll Daily Times Herald reports Warnke was taken to the Carroll County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place this Thursday.

ROCKWELL CITY, Iowa (AP) – A part of Rockwell City has been renamed in honor of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty last fall.An area north of the Rockwell City park will now be known as Jamie Buenting Memorial Park. Dozens of people attended an event Sunday afternoon to celebrate the change.

Buenting was killed in September 2013 during an early morning standoff. Corey Trott has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the case. The Fort Dodge Messenger reports the newly named area includes a renovated duck pond, new shelter on the bank and donated benches. Mayor Phil Heinlin says organizers want to put an illuminated flag on a pole in the middle of the pond.

Sheriff’s officials in Audubon County report two men were arrested on OWI charges Friday night. 31-year old Eddie Ray Mack, of Audubon, was taken into custody at around 10-p.m. on charges that include OWI/3rd offense, 2 counts of Child Endangerment, and Open Container. The charges were the result of a traffic stop on Highway 71, south of Audubon.

Also arrested Friday night, was 30-year old David James Elliott, of Newton. He was taken into custody at around 11:30-p.m. following an incident on Tracy Street, in Audubon. Elliott was charged with OWI/1st offense, Driving While Suspended, and Careless Driving.

Both men were transported to the Audubon County Jail and later released after appearing before the magistrate. Their preliminary hearings were set for June 19th.

The Atlantic Police Department says no injuries were reported following two separate accidents that occurred about 30-minutes apart, Saturday. Officials say vehicles driven by Dylan Rowland, of Atlantic, and Traci Luke, of Lewis, collided at around 2:20-p.m. in the Dollar General Store parking lot. The accident happened when both vehicles, which were parked on opposite sides of the lot, started backing up at the same time. The damage amounted to $1,700.

The second accident happened at around 2:35-p.m. Saturday, as a vehicle driven by Pamela Kuehl, of Atlantic, was backing up. Kuehl had been traveling south on Cedar Street when she came upon a Police officer assisting another motorist. Kuehl put her vehicle in reverse and in the process of backing up, struck a legally parked vehicle registered to Franklin Waggoner, of Atlantic. The mishap caused $1,800 damage altogether,.

No citations were issued following those accidents.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – Iowa utility officials say the Obama administration’s ambitious plan to cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants is likely to increase costs. The plan announced Monday calls for carbon emissions to be cut by 30 percent by 2030 when compared to 2005 levels. But utilities and state officials say they’ll have to review the details before they know how Iowa will be affected.

Regi Goodale with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives says it’s just a question of how much electric bills will increase because of the new regulations. Iowa utilities invested heavily in wind power over the past decade and improved the efficiency of existing power plants. Mark Douglas with the Iowa Utilities Association says the state may be in a good position because of those past efforts.