Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports his officers arrested a local man late Wednesday evening on a felony assault charge associated with a domestic relationship. 35-year old Eric Brandon Wise, of Clarinda, was taken into custody without incident at around 8:45-p.m.

Wise was being held without bail in the Page County Jail pending an initial appearance before a Magistrate. He was arrested after a warrant was issued for his arrest subsequent to an investigation of a domestic altercation that occurred on Sunday, July 26th between Wise and an adult female who resides with Wise. The female alleges that she was choked by Wise during the altercation.

Authorities believe the man who held up a credit union in Mason City this week is the suspect known as the “A-K 47 Bandit,” who’s wanted in multiple bank heists in several states. Mason City Police Lieutenant Rich Jensen says the man walked into the Iowa Heartland Credit Union on Tuesday at 10 A-M, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. He demanded money, forced the bank employees into the vault, then fled in a Toyota Camry.

Previous AK-47 Bandit robberies (from AK47bandit.com)

“In previous robberies, the suspect used a dark-colored Nissan Maxima with chrome door handles,” Jensen says. “The suspect left behind an improvised explosive device that was rendered safe by the FBI and the local fire marshal.” Though he was wearing a ski mask, Jensen says it’s believed he’s the same suspect responsible for robberies in at least four other states.

AK Bandit Camry

“This suspect shot and wounded a Chino, California, police officer after robbing a bank in 2012 and has since been linked to four bank robberies and one attempted bank robbery in multiple states, using the same rifle,” Jensen says. Lieutenant Andy Bjelland, with the Chino (California) Police Department, says the Chino robbery happened after the suspect phoned in a bomb threat at another facility as a distraction before robbing the bank.

Upon arrival at the bank, an officer interrupted what appeared to be a carjacking by the suspect. He fired at the officer and left the officer seriously wounded. The officer has had several major surgeries since the incident but is now back on duty. Bjelland says ten days later, the suspect unsuccessfully attempted to rob a bank in Sacramento, California, and then three days later, he robbed a Vacaville, California bank.

Since then, he robbed a North Bend, Washington, bank in July 2012, a Rexburg, Idaho, bank in November 2012 and the First Nebraska Bank branch in Nebraska City, Nebraska, in August of last year. While the suspect fled the Mason City bank in a dark-colored 2007-to-2009 Toyota Camry, he had previously used a chrome-packaged 2009-to-2011 Nissan Maxima.

Bjelland calls it “a significant change.” If you have any information about the robbery, call the Mason City Police Department at (641) 421-3636.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Creston are investigating an incident of vehicle vandalism. Officials say a resident in the 500 block of W. Montgomery Street, in Creston, reported Wed. morning that someone had thrown a large stone through the passenger side window of his vehicle, which was parked near his home. The incident happened sometime between 4:40-p.m. Tuesday and 8:30-a.m., Wednesday.

The vehicle’s window was broken during the incident, and dashboard trim was damaged. The victim reports a pack of cigarettes was stolen from the vehicle. The loss was estimated at $300 altogether (including damage to the vehicle).