DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man has been freed from prison after serving only five years of a 15-year sentence. KCCI-TV reports Scotty Parks is a convicted habitual domestic abuser. In 2009, Parks beat his victim for hours in her home. He knocked her unconscious, left bruises and tore out chunks of her hair. The victim says “He beat me for 4 1/2 hours using his hands, knees and feet…he knocked me unconscious twice — the first time, through strangulation.” His sentence was shortened due to good behavior in prison.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – At least four Iowa children have died in the past 18 months at day care centers that had been warned about caring for too many children. The Des Moines Register reports that criminal charges have been filed in two of the deaths, and prosecutors are considering charges in a third case. The state has 4,300 regulated day care centers, but home daycares are not regulated.
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two Cedar Rapids police officers went to the hospital after fighting with someone they were trying to arrest downtown on Sunday. KCRG-TV reports it’s not clear what led to the fight. The officers have been treated and released from the hospital.
RATHBUN, IA (IRN) – A dock at Rathbun Lake was swept away during the storm on Saturday, according to KCCI-TV. People on the dock during the storm were thrown into the water.
Witnesses say the dock floated away and ran into another dock, allowing people to jump to safety. After the storm passed the dock was found on the other side of the lake.
DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Twenty-six-year-old Ian Pfeiffer died when he was struck by a train in downtown Des Moines shortly after 12:30 a.m. Saturday. WHO-TV reports witnesses say Pfeiffer walked around the lowered traffic signal arms and attempted to jump onto the train while it was moving. Friends say it wasn’t a suicide attempt. They describe Pfeiffer as a fun, colorful soul. From his art, love of music, or just the way he could lift up anyone’s spirits, they say Pfeiffer treated friends like family.