March 28, 2024

Police Blotter

0

Newton Police

Department

• Frederick A. Belger, 40, of Newton was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated (second offense) at 9:55 p.m. Thursday after Newton police allegedly witnessed his car driving at a high rate of speed. Belger, whose datamaster test indicated a blood alcohol content of .141, struck a vehicle in the driveway of 312 E. 22nd St. S. as police officers pulled the subject over. Belger refused a field breathalyzer, failed sobriety maneuvers and was observed by authorities with watery and bloodshot eyes, according to a Newton police report. Belger was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Sonja J. Chisholm, 38, of Newton was charged with operating while intoxicated at 5:32 p.m. Thursday after Newton police were notified of a possible drunk driver traveling toward Newton from the Kellogg area. Chisholm failed sobriety tests and registered a blood alcohol content of .104 on a datamaster after her vehicle was stopped at 1501 N. 11th Ave. E. in an apartment complex parking lot. Chisholm was released to appear in court.

• Walking around in nothing but a diaper with a heat index of 110 degrees, a 2- to 3-year-old Newton child was found wandering unattended for 45 minutes on Bungalow Court on Friday before the child’s mother was arrested and charged with child endangerment at 3:04 p.m. Alyssa V. Dunbar, 20, of Newton told police she laid down for a nap after putting her two children down when her toddler escaped their residence, according to a Newton police report. The defendant said in her police interview that she knew there was a risk for her child to slip out of the home unnoticed. Dunbar’s child was picked up by authorities and DHS was notified. The defendant was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Brooks M. O’Roake, 32, of Newton was charged with driving while license barred at 12:31 p.m. Sunday after Newton police stopped the defendant’s vehicle in the 200 block of First Avenue West for a seat belt violation. Department reports allege that O’Roake also was driving without insurance before the stop and was cited accordingly. The subject was released to appear in court.

• Brian K. Reck, 45, of Ottumwa was arrested and charged with aggravated domestic assault after he allegedly caused a bloody nose, bruising and a left-ear cut on a female victim at The Manhattan bar at 1:13 a.m. Sunday. According to a Newton police report, the victim’s face was “covered with blood running from her nose.” The defendant was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Joshua D. Rupe, 37, of Newton was arrested and charged with public intoxication (second offense) when he was found passed out holding a quart of beer in the hallway of an apartment building at 1209 W. 16th St. South. According to a Newton police report, Rupe allegedly had an “extreme” odor of alcohol when he was apprehended at 3:56 p.m. Saturday. The defendant had two prior OWI offenses on June 10 and 17, 2011. Rupe was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Two Jasper County women were charged with assault at 1:12 a.m. Saturday, after they allegedly punched, kicked and grabbed the neck of a female victim outside the Scoreboard bar in downtown Newton. Jessica L. Landwier, 24, of Newton and Leslie J. Crow, 27, of Colfax were charged after they were witnessed striking the other female, according to a Newton police report. Both defendants were released to appear in court.

• A Newton man was charged with interference with official acts and assaulting a peace officer after he allegedly threw a cell phone at a Newton police official and fought with another causing an injury to the authority’s left arm. Blake E. Williams, 19, started the confrontation after police were called to Skiff Medical Center on July 5, at 5:48 p.m. due to a combative patient. According to a police report, Williams had a court order for committal and allegedly threatened his mother and hospital staff. The defendant came to the Newton Police Department on Monday to formally receive his charge. Williams was released to appear in court.

• Kelly L. Taft, 35, of Newton was arrested at 1:20 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear in court. According to a Newton Police report, Taft was arrested at 1786 W. Fourth St. North and his original charge was driving while license revoked. The defendant was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.