(Updated 10:50-a.m. w/Pott. County charges) — A Council Bluffs man was arrested following a pursuit that began this (Friday) morning near Harlan, and ended near Avoca. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports at around 1:55-a.m.. a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a vehicle south of Harlan. The vehicle, a 1999 Dodge Ram pickup, driven by 29-year old Andrew Neilsen, failed to stop and a pursuit ensued on the gravel roads near Nishna Bend Park. The vehicle traveled southbound towards Avoca, eventually heading southbound on Highway 59. As the pursuit neared the I-80 interchange at Avoca, a Pottawattamie County deputy joined the pursuit.

Shelby County Sheriff’s SUV damaged in a pursuit this morning (photo from the Shelby Co. S/O’s Facebook page.)

The suspect then attempted to make a turn to get on Interstate 80 eastbound. In doing so, the suspect decelerated suddenly, causing the deputy to strike the vehicle in the rear and disabling the deputy’s vehicle. The suspect continued his attempt to elude law enforcement by reversing down Highway 59 towards Avoca for a short distance, before ending up in the west ditch. He was taken into custody by the Shelby and Pottawattamie County deputies without further incident. Both the deputy and Neilsen were evaluated at the scene by Avoca Fire and Rescue.

Neilsen was then transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail, where he was charged with: Possession/Delivery of Drugs (82.8 grams of Methamphetamine & 11.6 grams of Marijuana); Ongoing Criminal Conduct; Drug Stamp Criminal Penalties; Felony Eluding; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (a meth pipe, scales and baggies); and OWI/1st offense. Authorities seized SIM cards valued, a wallet with a fake ID during their investigation. The property was valued at $100.

Authorities learned during their investigation, that Nielsen was wanted on warrants out of Ida, Oakdale, and Pottawattamie County. Additional charges were pending in Shelby County. The accident was investigated by the Iowa State Patrol. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol, and Avoca Fire and Rescue.

The Creston Police Department reports the driver of a vehicle involved in a police pursuit early this (Friday) morning, was arrested on numerous charges. 28-year old Cody John Courtney, of Thayer, was arrested on the east side of the Creston City Limits at around 1:45-a.m., and charged with Felony Eluding, Reckless Driving, Interference with Official Acts, and Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to sell. Courtney was being held without bond, in the Union County Jail.

And, just after 7-p.m. Thursday, Creston Police arrested 20-year old Gregory Dale Welcher, of Thayer, at a residence in the 200 block of S. Elm Street, in Creston. Welcher was arrested on an Adams County warrant and held in the Union County Jail on a $500 bond.

Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County report 58-year old Che Blake, of New Market, was arrested Thursday, on a charge of Simple Assault. She was taken into custody in the 300 block of Lafayette Street, in New Market,  and was later released from the Taylor County Jail on $300 bond.

BOONE, Iowa (AP) — A central Iowa woman accused of fatally stabbing a man in the home they shared has taken a plea deal. Boone County District Court records say 59-year-old Mary Myers pleaded guilty Thursday to willful injury and voluntary manslaughter. Her sentencing is scheduled for May 18. Prosecutors dropped a charge of first-degree murder in exchange for Myers’ pleas.

Boone police say Myers went to the Boone police station on Jan. 16 and said she’d stabbed 65-year-old Joe Wirth during a fight. Officers went to the home and found Wirth dead with several stab wounds. Investigators think he was killed two days earlier.

Governor Kim Reynolds has signed the so-called “sanctuary cities” bill into law. She did it Thursday without making any public statement about it. In February, Reynolds sent a fundraising email praising legislators who crafted the bill. Reynolds said the effort sent a message to “far left liberals in Des Moines and Iowa City” who’ve been considering moves to delay or deter deportation for people in the country illegally.
It’s unclear what may happen now. Bill backers said during debate in the House and Senate there are “some” law enforcement agencies that aren’t fully cooperating with federal immigration agents. The bill calls for withholding state funds from any city or county that fails to detain undocumented immigrants when federal authorities ask. Critics say a warrant is required for that kind of a request.

(Radio Iowa)