POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – An investigation by agents of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation led to yesterday’s arrest of a Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy. 30-year-old David Schmitt from Meriden was arrested in Polk County. Schmitt was arrested for alleged offenses including: aggravated battery, disorderly conduct, two counts of aggravated endangering a child, two counts of intimidation of a witness or victim, and two counts of aggravated assault. He is in Polk County Jail waiting extradition to Kansas.
BONAPARTE, IA (IRN) – A Bonaparte man was arrested Wednesday for allegedly smoking marijuana with a minor and filming someone while they were nude. KTVO-TV reports 47-year-old Justin Haynes was arrested and charged with distribution to a person under the age of 18, two counts of drug possession, invasion of privacy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The victim did not know they were being filmed naked.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines teenager has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering his grandmother. KCCI-TV reports 19-year-old Noah LaPrei was sentenced Thursday to 50 years in prison with no minimum. He was 17 when he beat 79-year-old Rachel Pray to death.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Purchasing fireworks is now legal in the state of Iowa but finding a place that sells them is difficult. WHO-TV reports the reason for the lack of sellers is that the Fire Marshal’s Office just released the applications for sale licences Thursday. Part of the problem is also the timeline state lawmakers provided. Jeff Quigle, State Fire Marshall says, “we took a program that normally takes 6-9 months, in a perfect world, to adopt administrative rules with no hiccups. We’ve put it together in 8 weeks.” He expects some stands to open this weekend.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Dozens of people are buried in unmarked graves in an Eldridge park, according WQAD-TV. Earlier this month, Eldridge leaders voted to hire an archaeologist to put some long-standing town rumors to rest. Using ground penetrating radar, archaeologists found the graves at what once was the site of a Presbyterian Church, until a tornado destroyed the building in 1918.
WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The graduates of Waterloo West High School will not be keeping the diplomas they received Tuesday night. KCRG-TV reports a proofing error added the letter “k” to the end of the word “Waterloo.” The school has apologized, and the diplomas will be reprinted.