Iowa Radio News

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police announced that Scott Michael Greene has been arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. When arrested, Greene was secured in the handcuffs belonging to Sgt. Tony Beminio and Officer Justin Martin, the men he killed. Greene is being held at the Polk County Jail on a $10 million dollar cash bond. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A 16-year-old West Des Moines girl who died last week after suffering cardiac arrest had asked neighbors for help with food and clothing in the past, according to the Des Moines Register. Natalie Jasmine Finn died Oct. 24 inside her family’s home. Police are investigating. ALGONA, IA (IRN) – Another attempted child abduction took place in Algona Thursday, according to KIMT-TV. A male student on his way to school was followed by a man in a silver minivan. The man offered the boy money, and the student declined. The man then exited the van wearing a ski mask and black hoodie, and grabbed the boy. The boy broke the man’s grip and fled. Last week several girls were approached by a man offering money, and they too fled. LINN COUNTY, (IRN) – Two people are dead and three seriously injured after a crash involving three vehicles in Linn County yesterday. KWWL-TV reports a pickup truck and a car were stopped waiting to make a left-handed turn when they were both rear-ended by a different pickup. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A former substitute teacher accused of sexually exploiting a Cedar Rapids Washington High School student is now facing an upgraded felony charge. KGAN-TV reports Mary Beth Haglin says she’s not guilty. Haglin has made multiple appearances on national TV shows telling her side of the story, including Dr. Phil in October. She claims the student seduced her. CEDAR RAPIDS & HIAWATHA, IA (IRN) – At least two eastern Iowa babies will likely carry on their parents love for the Cubs, according to KCRG-TV. Benjamin Matthew Jansen was born at 10:18 p.m. Wednesday, almost exactly when the Indians tied up the World Series game. His Hiawatha parents decided to name him after Ben Zobrist, the Cub’s World Series MVP. Bracy Angle was born in Cedar Rapids early Tuesday morning. Her middle name? Wriglee.

IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Three people are in custody today after an armed robbery overnight at Domino’s Pizza in Iowa City. KWWL-TV reports two people with guns entered the restaurant, forced four people to give them money, and then locked them in the cooler. Police located the vehicle the suspects fled in, and a chase ensued. The chase ended at Coral Ridge mall where the three were taken into custody. No injuries were reported. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A medical license is being reinstated for a Des Moines doctor acquitted of manslaughter. The Des Moines Register reports that Daniel Baldi was accused of improperly prescribing large amounts of painkillers to patients, including Paul Gray, founder of the band Slipknot. Baldi was found not guilty of seven counts of involuntary manslaughter in 2014. He continues to deny any wrongdoing. URBANDALE, IA (IRN) – Urbandale police confirm they were familiar with Scott Michael Greene, the suspect in the killing of two metro Des Moines police officers. Video shared on YouTube shows the suspect in an altercation with officers at an Urbandale football game. Greene was escorted from school grounds after he taunted African-Americans in the crowd with a Confederate flag. FORT MADISON, IA (IRN) – A former drainage district board member has been convicted of falsifying documents regarding his employees taking dirt without permission to repair a levee near Fort Madison. The Daily Gate City reports that Michael Pieper ordered his company employees to take the dirt. The dirt value was estimated at around $93,000. MANCHESTER, IA (IRN) – An eastern Iowa judge accused of assaulting her husband has taken a plea deal. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 49-year-old Stephanie Rattenborg of Manchester pled guilty to disorderly conduct. Randall Rattenborg says his wife threw a water bottle at him and began hitting him because she’d learned he was having an extramarital affair. Her record will be cleared if she abides by court-imposed restrictions for a year. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Acts of kindness and an outpouring of support can be felt across the Des Moines metro after two police officers were killed early Wednesday. KCCI-TV reports in Urbandale, a woman brought water to an officer, and offered him a hug in an emotional moment captured on video that has gone viral. Memorials have sprung up at the Des Moines and Urbandale Police stations, as the communities, Iowa, and our nation mourns.

DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The two Des Moines metro police officers who were shot and killed in ambush-style attacks overnight have been identified. They were Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Beminio with the Des Moines Police Department and Officer Justin Martin of the Urbandale Police Department. The Iowa State Patrol reports 46-year-old Scott Michael Greene of Urbandale was taken into custody at approximately 9:15 this morning near Redfield as a suspect in the killings. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – In related news, former president Bill Clinton and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine have cancelled a scheduled appearance in Des Moines after two area police officers were killed last night. The two were scheduled to hold a campaign event this afternoon. Their appearances in Sioux City, Dubuque, and Waterloo this evening will go on as scheduled. AMES, IA (IRN) – An arrest has been made in a fatal Ames shooting originally reported by police as an accident. KCCI-TV reports 35-year-old Candace Cummings has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of her 36-year-old husband Harland Cummings. Witnesses originally described the shooting as an accident. Candace later admitted to killing her husband, citing stress in their marriage as a motive. WEST DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A death investigation of a teenager is underway in West Des Moines, according to WHO-TV. When first responders arrived, 16-year-old Natalie Finn was under cardiac arrest. She was transported to a local hospital where she died. An autopsy is scheduled. BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – A Davenport man has been arrested and charged with home invasion, assault and other charges after allegedly breaking into a Bettendorf home early Monday morning, attacking residents in the home with a hammer and other weapons, and then fleeing. WQAD-TV reports 41-year Daniel Webb is in jail after being tasered and arrested by Bettendorf police. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Did your kids collect too much candy on Beggar’s Night? KCRG-TV reports some dental clinics actually pay money for the candy, as part of the nationwide “Halloween Candy BuyBack Program.” The Cedar Rapids Smile Center is offering to pay $1 per pound for up to five pounds of candy that kids bring in to help fight cavities. The effort is part of Operation Gratitude, which will ship the candy to U.S. troops serving overseas.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – An officer-involved shooting occurred after a traffic stop in Cedar Rapids last night, according to KCRG-TV. The stopped driver began an altercation with the officer, who drew his weapon and fired. The man got back into his vehicle and fled. He then crashed into two vehicles, was arrested and taken to the hospital for treatment of his shooting and crash wounds. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – One man was injured and another was taken into custody after a confrontation led to a shooting overnight in Davenport. WQAD-TV reports 26-year-old Byron Blackwell was armed with a shotgun and confronted a man who was breaking into his truck. Blackwell shot the man, who was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Police charged Blackwell with willful injury-causing serious injury and going armed with intent. LINN COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person died after a two-vehicle crash involving a semi truck in Linn County. The Iowa State Patrol reports it happened on northbound I-380 when the driver of a minivan veered onto the right shoulder of the interstate, then veered left across both lanes into the semi truck. The driver of the minivan was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics where they died. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines Police are looking for a gunman involved in a rolling gunfight Monday morning, according to WHO-TV. Witnesses say one vehicle was chasing the other, with an occupant firing shots at the vehicle being chased. Police have found the vehicle that was being chased and are talking with the driver, who is not cooperating. Police say it’s a domestic situation. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – One of the owners of a Waterloo store that a man tried to rob said he originally thought it was some kind of Halloween prank. KCRG-TV reports Syed Jaffari, owner of Jim’s Food, says a masked man came in and pointed a gun at him, and said “give me your money.” Jaffari says he surprised the man when instead of turning to the cash register, he turned away from it. The man fled. NEWTON, IA (IRN) – A developer is donating seven buildings in Newton to the Des Moines Area Community College. The Newton Daily News reports developer Reza Kargarzadeh announced Monday he would donate the buildings that once were part of the Maytag corporate headquarters to the college. The donation is valued at about $8 million.

POLK COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A motorcyclist was killed in an accident in rural Polk County Saturday evening. 57-year-old Joseph Anthony Davis of Des Moines was traveling with another motorcyclist when a minivan attempted to pass them. The victim was unable to get over as this vehicle passed and was forced to lay his motorcycle down when he then collided with a stopped vehicle. The victim died at the scene. No one was injured in the minivan. OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A hotel worker in Ottumwa saved a guest from flames inside the woman’s room Sunday morning. The Ottumwa Courier reports the blaze began on the fourth floor of the Hotel Ottumwa, but fire sprinklers kept the flames from spreading. Hotel employee Trevor Medina kicked in the room’s door and pulled out the guest. She was hospitalized with smoke inhalation. PERRY, IA (IRN) – Two people are dead and a third was seriously injured after an incident in Perry Saturday evening. Raccoon Valley Radio reports one person has been detained and is being questioned in relation to the case. Law enforcement doesn’t believe the public is in any danger. DUBUQUE, IA (IRN) – A Dubuque man who was convicted this fall of killing his 27-year-old daughter wants a new trial. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports 63-year-old Robert Stern killed his daughter, who was autistic, because he was tired of caring for her. Authorities say he shot at her in their home 17 times using three revolvers, striking her 15 times. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – A man convicted of killing a homeless man in Cedar Rapids has now been found guilty of strangling a homeless woman. KWWL-TV reports Travis Standlee was found guilty Friday in the second-degree murder of Sharon Mead. Her body was found near Coe College. ROCKWELL CITY, IA (IRN) – Eight people are facing trespassing charges after protesting in the path of the Dakota Access oil pipeline in northwest Iowa this weekend. The Omaha World-Herald reports the arrests happened Saturday on a farm near Rockwell City. The $3.8 billion pipeline is designed to carry oil 1,200 miles from western North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to a shipping point in Illinois. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Man’s best friend joined in the Halloween fun Sunday in the seventh annual Spooky Paws Parade in Des Moines East Village. KCCI-TV reports dogs were dressed up as food, superheros and even Donald Trump. Some cat owners, jokingly, weren’t happy about this parade going to the dogs and protested. The small crowd carried signs, including ’cats rule, dogs drool!’ And “where’s our parade?”