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Shelby County Sheriff’s report (2/3/20)

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests. On Jan. 26th, authorities were called at around 4-p.m. to a residence in Elk Horn, with regard to a disturbance. Upon further investigation, 22-year-old Seth Dewayne Strong, of Exira, was arrested for Interference with Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor.   Strong was transported to the Shelby County Jail and held pending appearance in front of magistrate.   The follow morning, Strong plead guilty to the charge and was sentence two days in jail with credit for time already served.

On Jan. 30th, Shelby County Deputies arrested 35-year-old Timothy Ryan Hoffman, of Dow City, on outstanding warrant for driving while suspended, and failure to maintain control.    Hoffman was transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident, where he was released later that evening after posting bond.

Last Saturday, Shelby County Deputies responded to a 911 call from a residence in Portsmouth, and upon further investigation, arrested 33-year-old Clara Jo Mohr, for Public Intoxication.   Mohr was transported by deputies to the jail without incident and turned over to jail staff.   She was released from jail on her own recognizance the follow morning.

And today (Monday), 43-year-old James Lyle Behrens, of Harlan, was arrested as a result of a traffic stop along Highway 59 and Highway F32.    Behrens was transported to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office for further testing and then turned over to jail staff for processing.   He was charged with Operating while Intoxicated (2nd Offense), and speeding. Behrens was released later in the morning, after posting the required cash bond.

House fire in Grant Sunday night

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Montgomery County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Hamman reports the Montgomery County Communications Center received multiple calls at around 10-p.m. Sunday, with regard to a structure fire at 507 4th Street, in Grant.

Firefighters arrived on the scene a short time later and found the home to be fully engulfed in flames. Due to the amount of fire, smoke and downed power lines, crews began a defensive firefighting operation. Firefighters were on scene for roughly four hours.

All photos are courtesy Brian Hamman, Montgomery County EMA.

The investigation continues into the cause of the fire, but at this time, the home and its contents are considered a total loss.There were no injuries to the occupants of the home or any firefighters.

Agencies assisting the Grant Fire Department on the scene were: Elliott Fire Department, Villisca Fire Department, Griswold Rescue, Montgomery County Emergency Management, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office,Montgomery County Communications, Red Oak Police Department, Alliant Energy and the American Red Cross.

Snubbing Iowa, Bloomberg charts his own path in 2020 contest

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – With Democratic presidential candidates in Iowa for its kickoff caucuses, Michael Bloomberg is going his own way. The billionaire former New York City mayor is in California rallying supporters, as he bypasses early voting states like Iowa in favor of bigger, delegate-rich states to come. Bloomberg started his day in a coffee shop in Sacramento, where he urged voters to go to the polls. Early voting starts Monday in California in advance of the state’s March 3 primary.

UPDATE: Winter Weather Advisory now for Mills County, only

Weather

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

1007 AM CST Mon Feb 3 2020

MILLS COUNTY, IA…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST THIS EVENING...(Pottawattamie County is no longer included in the Advisory)

* WHAT…Freezing drizzle expected. Total ice accumulations from a trace up to five hundredths an inch. Winds gusting to near 35 mph.

* IMPACTS…Very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges are possible. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

4 arrested in Creston following multi-agency investigation into recent theft/drug activitity

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Officials with the Creston Police Department report four people were arrested Friday, following the execution of a search warrant at 612 West Mills Street, in Creston. The warrant was for stolen property taken in recent thefts in Creston and the surrounding area. Authorities say during the search, five guns were recovered, along with drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. A large amount of property was seized, along with one stolen vehicle.

Arrested at the scene were the following individuals:

  • Adam Cross, for: Theft in the 5th degree (2 counts); Criminal Mischief in the 5th; Possession of Burglary tools; Possession of a Controlled Substance (PCS)/3rd or subsequent offense, Dominion or control of a firearm by a Felon, and Gathering where controlled substances are used (All Class-D Felonies), as well as Attempted Burglary in the 3rd degree. Cross was also served with warrants for Interference with official acts (Union County), and Violation of Probation (Adams County). His total bond was set at $19,200. Cross with being held without bond on the Adams County warrant.
  • 39-year old Jennifer Beard, of Creston, was arrested Friday for: Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense; Theft in the 2nd degree and Gathering where controlled substances are used (both Class-D Felonies). She was also served with a Union County warrant for Violation of a No Contact Order (No bond until seen by the magistrate). A Union County Warrant for Theft in the 5th degree was requested, but had not yet been served as of the latest report. Total bond for Beard was set at $11,000. On Monday, Beard was charged with Violating a Court Order after attempting to contact a person with whom she has a valid No Contact Order. She was being held in the Adams County Jail on the previous charges.
  • Patrick Farlow was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense; Gathering where controlled substances are used and Burglary in the 3rd degree (Both Class-D felonies). He was also served with Union County warrants for: Probation Violation (on an original PCS charge); Probation Violation (on an original charge of Carrying Weapons, and a Controlled Substance Violation (By Department of Narcotics Enforcement). He was being held without bond on latter three charges, and on $12,000 bond for the other charges.
  • Natalie Eslinger: Was arrested on a Polk County warrant for Probation Violation, on an original charge of Operating a Vehicle without the owners’ consent.

Additional charges may still be filed, pending further investigation. Creston Police said also, the Department will notify victims of recent thefts to come the LEC (Union County Law Enforcement Center), to identify any possible missing property. That will take place after all the seized evidence has been logged and tagged. Agencies participating in the execution of the search warrant and investigation include: Creston Police; The Union, Adams, Ringgold, Adair and Taylor County Sheriff’s Offices; Afton Police, and the Dept. of Narcotics Enforcement (DNE).

Waterloo police ID bicyclist who was killed by vehicle

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — Authorities are investigating a weekend accident that left a bicyclist dead in Waterloo. Police say 45-year-old Gerrick Stotser, of Waterloo, died from injuries suffered in the accident, which happened in the 1800 block of Greenhill Road shortly after 12:30 a.m. Sunday. According to police, officers and fire rescue personnel found Stotser’s body when they arrived at the scene. Authorities say Stotser had been struck by a motor vehicle. Investigators are seeking information about the accident. They’re asking anyone who knows anything about the mishap to contact Waterloo police.

Iowa sees farm bankruptices almost double in 2019

Ag/Outdoor, News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) — A Farm Bureau report says Iowa saw 27 farms file for bankruptcy during 2019. That’s up from just 14 farm bankruptcies the previous year. Chad Hart, an agricultural economist at Iowa State University, says there may be more bankruptcy filings in coming years as the federal government ends trade mitigation payments that supplement farm income. Hart says, “Given that, we might see a step back here in farm incomes and that should lead to, again, continued pressure where we could see this bankruptcy trend continue to rise slowly higher.”

Hart says the overall numbers are relatively small, but it shows there’s mounting financial trouble from dairy states like Wisconsin to grain states like Iowa.  “It shows that it’s not just centered on one sector like dairy,” Hart says, “that this is spread more broadly across production agriculture.” Iowa and six neighboring states each marked decade-high numbers of farm bankruptcies in 2019.

Hart says farm income has actually been on the rise, buoyed by 28-billion dollars in federal payments to make up for trade disruptions. He says those payments are not expected to continue, but the financial pressure on Midwestern farmers likely will.

(Reporting by Grant Gerlock, Iowa Public Radio)

Man gets 5-10 years in prison for robbing eastern Iowa bank

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

CLINTON, Iowa (AP) – A man has been imprisoned for robbing a bank in eastern Iowa. The Clinton Herald reports that 57-year-old Raymond Reves was sentenced Thursday to five to 10 years. He’d pleaded guilty to robbery after prosecutors lowered the charge. He also was ordered to pay $700.83 in restitution to Clinton National Bank. Reves was arrested Nov. 7 after an officer spotted him about two blocks from the bank. Police say he matched the description of the robber. He later acknowledged robbing the bank and provided details about his plan for doing so.

Coin man arrested for OWI

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

Sheriff’s deputies in Page County arrested a man on an OWI charge, Friday. 59-year old Jeffrey Allan Davidshofer, of Coin, was arrested at 1st and Main in Coin, for OWI/1st offense. Davidshofer was transported to the Page County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted a $1,000 bond.

UPDATE: Name & more info. released in Sunday morning Pott. County pursuit

News

February 3rd, 2020 by Ric Hanson

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office has released additional details about a pursuit that began early Sunday morning. Chief Deputy Sheriff Rob Ambrose told KJAN News a deputy was dispatched at around 12:26-a.m. to a location in Avoca, with regard to a hit-and-run accident.

(He said upon arrival they made contact with Kelli Plagmann, who told deputies her husband, David, was responsible for hitting her 2016 Nissan Maxima. The couple is in the process of going through a divorce.)

David Plagmann, who is 31 and from Harlan, left the area in his 2012 Chevy Silverado pickup, but was pulled over a short time later in Avoca, near Highway 59 and I-80.

(He said after a brief talk with deputies, David Plagmann took off and was engaged in a pursuit.)

The vehicle traveled onto York Road and into a field and through a barbed-wire fence, before circling around and returning to York Road and back to Highway 59, where he turned north and entered Shelby County.

(A Shelby County Deputy deployed stop sticks, causing the driver’s left front tire to deflate. The vehicle continued on into Crawford and Carroll Counties on Highway 141, before ending near Bagley, in Guthrie County.)

The chase ended at around 1:50-a.m. Before it over, the left front tire on the pickup shredded and by the time the chase ended, the vehicle’s fenderwell was almost on the ground, because the wheel and brake system had been destroyed.

Photo credit: Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office

Speeds during the chase reached nearly 110-mph. During the pursuit, a Shelby County Sheriff’s vehicle ran over a set of stop-sticks, causing the vehicle to become temporarily disabled.

David Robert Plagman was transported to the Pott. County Jail, where he was charged with Eluding while exceeding the speed limit by 25-miles per hour or more, and Hit and Run – Vehicle damage only. The Sheriff’s report said alcohol was believed to have been a contributing factor in the incident.

No injuries were reported. Among the agencies that participated in the effort to pickup, was: The Pottawattamie, Shelby, Guthrie, Crawford and Carroll County Sheriff’s Departments, the Iowa State Patrol, Harlan and Panora Police, and others.