Police Blotter

Newton Police Department

• Shon J. Cupples, 39, of Newton was arrested and charged with serious assault at 1:26 a.m. April 8, after the subject allegedly headbutted a male victim following an argument at The Manhattan bar. According to a police report, Cupples was kicked out of the bar, and he was located by police at 9:14 p.m. in the 700 block of South Third Avenue West. Police said the victim sustained a cut to the nose and was bleeding when officers arrived on scene. Cupples was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Rodney D. Dobbs, 47, of Newton was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing at 10:54 a.m. April 11 after the subject allegedly entered a residence uninvited on the city’s southwest side on April 9 and attempted to kiss and fondle a female victim. According to a police report, authorities were called to Skiff hospital April 11 regarding an assault. The female victim told police she had decided to seek mental care after the April 9 attack. Her statement indicated that Dobbs allegedly was intoxicated during the intrusion. Police later located him at 5201⁄2 S. Second Ave. W., and Dobbs was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Jeremy L. Payne, 32, of Newton was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated at 9:13 a.m. April 11 after he reportedly hit a male victim operating a riding lawn mower in the 400 block of North Seventh Avenue East. According to a police report, the 51-year-old riding the lawn mower was traveling against the street’s curb and had a proper slow-moving-vehicle sign affixed to the trailer he was pulling. Police said Payne was traveling eastbound when the crash occurred, and a data master test at the NPD office showed his blood alcohol content to be .108. The victim was taken to Skiff Medical Center for treatment of his injuries. Police estimate that $2,000 in damage was done to Payne’s vehicle, and the tractor sustained $7,300 in damage. The subject also was cited for driving with expired license plates. Payne was released to appear in court.

• Mark C. Ross, 21, of Newton was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated at 1:36 a.m. Friday after a traffic stop for speeding revealed the subject had a blood alcohol content of .196. According to a police report, officers stopped Ross’s vehicle at the intersection of West Eighth Street South and South Second Avenue West. Police said the subject smelled of alcoholic beverage and failed sobriety testing. Ross’s blood alcohol content was determined with an on-scene breath test. He was given a warning for speeding and released to appear in court.

• Sharlee J. Royce, 21, of Newton was arrested and charged with fifth-degree theft at 5:39 p.m. Saturday after employees at The Shoe Department on First Avenue East reported witnessing Royce leave the store wearing an allegedly stolen pair of shoes. According to a police report, Royce had left the scene before investigators arrived. She was located at 1020 E. 12th St. N. Apt. 1 and taken to the Jasper County Jail. Store employees estimate the shoes’ value at $42.99.

• Christopher D. Smile, 28, of Newton was arrested on a warrant out of Council Bluffs Friday after officers responded to a verbal argument at 1501 11th Ave. E. Apt. D. According to a police report, Smile was wanted in western Iowa for contempt of court by violation of a restraining order and harassing communication. Officers said they discovered the warrants through a routine background check during their investigation of the service call at 4:43 a.m. Smile was taken to the Jasper County Jail to await transport to Council Bluffs.

• Danielle Villarreal, 18, of Newton was arrested and charged with willful injury at 9:16 p.m. Thursday after she reportedly sprayed 21-year-old Chelsie R. Vasquez with pepper spray following a verbal argument in Vasquez’s apartment on April 11. According to a police report, authorities were called to 901 S. 13th Ave. E. Apt. 5 regarding an assault. Police said that Vasquez admitted to striking Villarreal in the face after the unwanted guest refused to leave her apartment. The 21-year-old also was charged in the incident with simple assault. Villarreal was taken to the Jasper County Jail while Vasquez was released to appear in court.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It is the policy of the Newton Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 15 and older.