Police Blotter

Newton Police

Department

• Two Grinnell women were arrested at the Newton Walmart and charged with fifth-degree theft June 13 after store employees allegedly observed both subjects placing items in their purses. According to a police report, 27-year-olds Krysten D. Bagron and Rebbecca L. Benson were found at 4:40 p.m. concealing merchandise worth $39.55 and $58.22 respectively. Both women were taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Andrew J. Bulmer, 19, of Kellogg was charged with driving while license suspended at 2:36 a.m. Monday after police stopped his vehicle for driving without headlights. According to a police report, Bulmer was pulled over in the Burger King parking lot on First Avenue East when authorities found his license was under suspension. Bulmer was released to appear in court.

• Tammy L. Garr, 44, of Newton was arrested and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (third offense) at 11:24 a.m. Friday after witnesses reported seeing a possible drunk driver in the alleyway between the 100 block of West Fifth Street South and West Seventh Street South. According to a police report, Garr refused a Datamaster test and failed on-scene sobriety maneuvers. Police said she had watery, bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol during an investigation. Court records indicate that Garr has two previous OWI convictions on Jan. 30, 2002, and May 6, 2009. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Joshua L. Hellickson, 27, of Newton was arrested and charged with 18 counts of forgery Sunday at Newton’s West End Sinclair gas station after allegedly writing five checks and making several deposits and withdrawls from a deceased person’s checking account. According to a police report, a clerk at Sinclair identified Hellickson from a photo as an individual writing checks on April 9. Police said the checks totaled $529. The report states that US Bank reported a total of 13 checks written from the account by April 10 and several withdrawls and deposits allegedly made by Hellickson. A victim affiliated with the account told police that they suspected Hellickson could be the cause of the activity. The subject was arrested at 10 p.m. Sunday and taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Danny G. Petro, 30, of Newton was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at 5:40 p.m. Monday at a residence at 502 First Ave. E. According to a police report, authorities went to the location searching for another suspect. When Petro allowed police to search the premises, officers reportedly observed the subject concealing a smoking pipe in his hand. Police said they asked Petro if the pipe would test positive for marijuana residue, and he reportedly confirmed the query. The subject was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Elizabeth F. Sanders, 25, of Masonville was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated at 1:57 a.m. Sunday after witnesses reported seeing a driver matching Sanders’ description swerving, nearly mounting the curb. According to a police report, Sanders was pulled over for the traffic stop in the 1000 block of South Fifth Avenue East. Police said she had an odor of alcohol during the stop, watery eyes and she failed sobriety maneuvers. A Datamaster test conducted later at the NPD office reportedly showed Sanders’ blood alcohol content at .131. The subject was released to appear in court.

• Jeremy W. Schroeder, 28, of Newton was arrested and charged with serious assault at 2:28 p.m. Monday after a victim alleged that the subject punched and broke his nose in the early morning hours that day. According to a police report, Schroeder punched the victim in the nose at midnight at 1020 E. 12th St. N., sending the individual to Skiff Medical Center. Police located Schroeder at 200 E. Eighth St. N. and transported him to the Jasper County Jail.

• Whitney B. Wilcox, 29, of Newton was arrested at 6:49 p.m. June 13 on a warrant for failure to appear in court for an initial hearing, according to a Newton police report. Wilcox faces charges of driving while license suspended and two counts of failure to secure a child following a May 29 traffic accident in Newton. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

Jasper County

Sheriff’s Office

• Daniel D. Miller, 45, of Grinnell was arrested June 13 and faces multiple charges, including drug possession, after his vehicle crashed at 6921 Cone St. in rural Newton. According to a sheriff’s office report, authorities were called to the scene at 10:39 p.m. and reportedly found Miller dazed while standing outside the vehicle registered to his mother. Investigators said a bag of marijuana was found in the area where the subject was standing. Miller also reportedly had an odor of alcohol and watery, bloodshot eyes during an interview with a deputy. The report indicates that Miller refused to take field sobriety tests or give a urine sample. Law enforcement officials charged Miller with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, driving while license suspended and barred, open container, no insurance, failure to maintain control and failure to wear a seat belt. Court records show Miller had a previous OWI test failure on Nov. 27, 2003 and is barred from driving from July 19, 2008 through July 17, 2012. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Stephanie L. Slocum, 24, of Marshalltown was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended and improper use of registration at 4:06 a.m. June 13. According to a sheriff’s office report, Slocum’s Iowa Department of Transportation information showed her suspended license prior to the traffic stop in the 5400 block of Highway T12 North. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Jessie M. Vandenbroek, 25, of Newton was arrested and charged with driving while license suspended at 7:37 p.m. Sunday at the intersection of US Highway 6 and First Avenue East. According to the sheriff’s deputy’s report, the license plate information on his moped indicated that Vandenbroek had a suspended license. The subject was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Jacob D. Willemsen, 19, of Newton was arrested and charged at the Metz railroad trestle at 2:30 a.m. Sunday on four charges, including possession of marijuana and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. According to the sheriff’s office report, a deputy observed Willemsen off-roading near the 3800 block of West 66th Street South, and, once spotted, attempted to hide his vehicle in a dark field. Authorities said that during the investigation, open beer cans were found both inside and outside the vehicle. Investigators reported finding a green, leafy substance and pipe in Willemsen’s pocket which later field tested positive as marijuana. The subject reportedly admitted to smoking the controlled substance a few hours earlier. The deputy conducted a preliminary breath test which showed Willemsen’s blood alcohol content to be .123, but he reportedly refused the more accurate Datamaster test. The subject 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.