Category: State News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A Des Moines man faces attempted murder charges after he allegedly strangled a woman with a shower curtain. KCCI-TV reports 33-year-old Michael Lajeunesse is charged with attempted murder. The victim told police Lajeunesse punched and slapped her many times before dragging her from a bedroom into a bathroom, where he strangled her with a shower curtain while telling her “Now I have to kill you” and “You are going to die tonight.” He’s in jail.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Deputy has been taken into custody on allegations of being intoxicated while in possession of a weapon. KWWL-TV reports deputy Erick McFerran was charged for “carrying weapons.” He was booked in the Black Hawk County Jail and later released. He wasn’t on duty when this occurred.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A man suffered a gunshot wound during an evening riddled with shots fired reports Wednesday in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports the wound was non-life threatening. Witnesses say a group of people were arguing before the shots were fired. An hour later police responded to another report of multiple shots fired at a different location. No one was found injured.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One person died after their car crashed into a tree and caught on fire in Waterloo early this morning, according to KCRG-TV. Police are investigating.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – A large structure fire decimated a building in Fort Dodge last night. KCCI-TV reports the fire happened at Fort Dodge Asphalt Co. Fire officials say there were several explosions from a variety of tanks that caused the fire, engulfing the building, which is a total loss. Damages could exceed several hundred thousand dollars. No one was injured.

DONNELLSON, IA (IRN) – Tuesday was a perfect day for harvesting crops, and near the southeastern Iowa town of Donnellson, Bill Knisley’s friends and neighbors did just that, according to the Daily Gate City. But Bill wasn’t there. He died in July from a farm accident. Bill’s wife Joann watched and said “I just can’t believe they came before they got their own crops out of their fields. Amazing.”

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – The Polk County Medical Examiner’s Office has determined the cause of death of a man and woman, along with a dog, who were all found deceased inside a home on August 23rd. 26-year-old Raymond Silbaugh III and 42-year-old Alicia Marie Arpy were the victims of an accident. The cause of death was ruled as inhalation of products of combustion – with elevated Carbon Monoxide levels. The home didn’t have electricity and they were using a generator.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Multiple cars were hit after shots were fired in Davenport Wednesday night, according to WQAD-TV. Police say no one was injured, and the investigation is ongoing.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – The city of Ottumwa is reminding residents no pit bulls are allowed. KTVO-TV reports in the last few weeks, the city has seen at least three pit bulls at large. Ottumwa banned pit bulls and pit bull mixes from city limits in 2003 following the fatal attack of a toddler. The city works to find a home for abandoned pit bulls by working with rescue groups outside of city limits.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – Protesters called former President Bill Clinton a rapist in Waterloo, Wednesday, according to KCRG-TV. Clinton was there to secure votes for his wife, Hillary, who trails Donald Trump by four points in Iowa. This was at least the fourth time protesters have shouted rape allegations, interrupting Clinton campaign rallies around the country.

WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – The president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women has resigned because she says she cannot support Donald Trump. KWWL-TV reports Melissa Gesing says she still plans to work hard for other GOP candidates, but says she cannot “look at myself in the mirror each morning if I do not take a stand against the racism, sexism and hate that Donald Trump continues to promote.”

WEST BRANCH, IA (IRN) – A West Branch man is facing charges after the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations says he beat a woman so badly he put her in critical condition. KCRG-TV reports West Branch police arrested 39-year-old Mike Kelley on willful injury causing serious injury and domestic assault charges. Police found the woman severely beaten inside Kelley’s bedroom. He’s in jail.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA (IRN) – Bakers at a church in Council Bluffs have packed their millionth cookie to send to U.S. military personnel overseas. The Daily Nonpareil reports that the Iowa Cookie Crumbs at Emanuel Lutheran Church achieved the milestone Tuesday. Each month, the group sends homemade cookie shipments to U.S. troops all over the world as three teams of 50 to 60 bakers trade off kitchen duty. Tuesday’s shipment included nearly 13,000 cookies.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in conjunction with the Linn County Attorney has determined that two Cedar Rapids police officers were justified in a deadly shooting. KWWL-TV reports the two officers shot and killed 25-year-old Markell Bivins September 12 in Cedar Rapids. Bivins was attacking his girlfriend with a knife at the time.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – Polk County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a two vehicle head-on collision this morning that left one person dead and sent three others to the hospital. The accident happened in Pleasant Hill near Southeast Polk High School. Witnesses say that a Nissan Pathfinder traveling westbound was struck head-on by a Nissan Altima traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes.

BURLINGTON, IA (IRN) – Authorities say a man whose body was discovered inside a Burlington home was a homicide victim. The Hawk Eye reports the body has been identified as that of 32-year-old Julian Menke. Police say the case is being investigated as a homicide but won’t say how Menke was killed. No arrest has been reported.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A man dressed as a clown was arrested for assault in Urbandale Tuesday. WHO-TV reports police responded to multiple reports of a man wearing a clown mask who was armed with a machete and chasing two citizens. 18-year-old Jacob Steil of West Des Moines was arrested and charged with two counts of assault with a weapon. Officers located a metal baseball bat and clown mask at the scene.

FOREST CITY, IA (IRN) – A Texas man is facing drug charges in Winnebago County, according to KIMT-TV. 61-year-old Melvin Lee Sims of Lubbock was arrested after a FedEx driver brought a package to the Forest City Police Department. The driver said he had concerns about the package and a K-9 dog indicated there were drugs inside. Police got a search warrant, found meth inside, resealed the package, and delivered it to its destination at a local hotel. Sims took the package into his possession, and was arrested.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Interstate 380 in eastern Iowa is going to be used to test driverless vehicles next year, according KCRG-TV. The Iowa DOT will test the vehicles between Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. They say driverless vehicles will reduce accidents 80%. Semi driver Michael Miller is worried that the automated vehicles will hurt the trucking industry. He says, “This is all I know how to do. You take this away from me, what else am I going to do?”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A baby left at a Des Moines clinic two years ago is now living a safe, healthy life in Wyoming. KCCI-TV reports the adopted mother of Beckett, a safe haven baby, says that Beckett is now a happy, healthy, 2-year-old. Britany and Erik Gormley adopted Beckett in December 2014. The Gormley family had just adopted Beckett’s half-sister, Samantha, so the caseworker was familiar with the Gormley’s, and was able to place the siblings together.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Two people were taken into custody this morning after a chase on Des Moines’ east side. WHO-TV reports police tried to pull over 39-year-old Warnell Ziegler on a traffic violation, but he fled. He was captured when his vehicle got stuck in a parking lot. He resisted arrest, and was tasered. A passenger in the vehicle, Christina Stein, was also taken into custody on outstanding warrants. She told police she had swallowed drugs and was taken to the hospital.

OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A former employee of Ottumwa Christian School has been arrested, accused of stealing over $160,000 from the school, according to KTVO-TV. 40-year-old Joni Stinson of Ottumwa, has been charged with four felonies. It has been a rough year for the school. In August, the school building was destroyed by fire. The fire was later determined to be arson.

OSAGE, IA (IRN) – An Osage man accused of sexually abusing a young man and then attempting to kill him to keep him from testifying, has been sentenced to up to 35 years in prison. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports 52-year-old Mark Retterath planned to kill the victim, who he first abused as a teenager, with the poison ricin after the man reported sexual abuse to authorities. Retterath got the ricin idea from the television show “Breaking Bad.”

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man has been arrested and charged following a shooting in Des Moines that resulted in one man being sent to the hospital Saturday. WHO-TV reports police arrested 75-year-old James Sloan and charged him with attempted murder and carrying a concealed weapon.

ALBURNETT, IA (IRN) – A couple from the Linn County community of Alburnett believes their home started on fire Saturday because of a remote control. KCRG-TV reports a charred living room and crumbled insulation is all that’s left inside the house. It appears the remote started on fire when it got wedged in between couch cushions with a button pushed.

FORT DODGE, IA (IRN) – An unusual tour group is planning to visit Webster County later in October. KCCI-TV reports 30 farmers from Sweden are visiting friends and relatives in Iowa to help out with harvest. Having finished their own harvesting in Sweden, where a more northerly climate means an earlier harvest than is typical here, the Swedish visitors are also coming to learn more about our farm practices, facilities and equipment, and do some sightseeing.

POSTVILLE, IA (IRN) – Emergency responders had to airlift a 38-year-old man to the hospital after he crashed his semi near Postville Sunday, according to KCCI-TV. Michael Duffield of Postville was driving north when he crossed the centerline and went into the ditch. They say that’s when he hit a driveway and the semi rolled. A passenger in the semi, 55-year-old Claude Jones of Waukon, suffered injuries.

CENTRAL CITY, IA (IRN) – Two people were killed in a Linn County collision on Saturday according to KCCI-TV. A truck collided with a car in Central City, killing the car driver and a passenger in the truck. The truck driver and a 1-year-old child in the car were hospitalized.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A Cedar Rapids man is facing theft and fraud charges after he tried to cash a fraudulent check last week. The Iowa City Press Citizen reports 27-year-old Eric Clark Jr., tried to cash the $17,000 check at a credit union location in Iowa City. The business owner from North Liberty said he did not write the check to Clark, although it is made out to him.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Bail has been set at $1 million for a 20-year-old Davenport man accused of fatally shooting his parents in their home. The Quad-City Times reports Sean Michael Freese is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the shooting deaths of 58-year-old Kevin Freese and 57-year-old Donna Freese. Police say he planned the killings, but have not discussed a motive.

AURORA, IA (IRN) – A 55-year-old man from the northeastern Iowa town of Aurora faces multiple charges after he fired shots toward law enforcement officers during a two-hour standoff. KCRG-TV reports Dennis Chamberlain was threatening a woman with a weapon when officers arrived, and he shot at them. A negotiator was brought in, and Chamberlain was taken into custody two hours later. No one was hurt.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – Four juveniles were injured and the driver charged in a car crash in Davenport, according to WQAD-TV. 25-year-old Trevor Henderson’s car fishtailed on a gravel road, went into the ditch and became airborne before finally landing in a corn field. Henderson was driving recklessly at high speed. He faces multiple charges, including child endangerment.

URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – A Dowling Catholic High School senior is hoping to sway the opinions of Urbandale city leaders to allow bee-keeping within city limits. WHO-TV reports Clare Heinrich is a beekeeper, and she was informed by the city of Urbandale bees were “livestock,” and she couldn’t have them in the city limits. Heinrich says bees are going extinct, and we need to help them. Seven species of bees were placed on the endangered species list last week.