Newton Police
Department
• Dakota R. Mindham, 18, of Newton was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities responded to a complaint at 2:32 a.m. Wednesday of two males sitting in a car yelling at people in the America’s Best Value Inn parking lot. Newton police located the vehicle at 2203 W. 18th St. S. and detected an odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. Authorities located a baggie of marijuana, a marijuana pipe, an unused syringe and a spoon with white residue in the car during a search. Mindham was charged in connection with the incident and transported to the Jasper County Jail.
Mindham also was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief after authorities responded to a complaint at 7:09 p.m. Saturday of tires being slashed on a vehicle in the Walmart parking lot. Witnesses described the subject, and authorities located him in Walmart. Mindham was charged and released to appear in court. The estimated damage to the tires was $130.
• Edward Berlin, 73, of West Seneca, N.Y., was cited with unsafe backing on a highway after backing up on the wrong side of the road at 8:22 p.m. Tuesday in the 1300 block of Highway 14 South, and causing a two-vehicle accident. Donavon M. Braden, 58, of Oskaloosa slowed to avoid hitting Berlin and then was struck by a vehicle behind him driven by Monica L. Franzen, 43, of Nashua. Damage was estimated at $200 for Braden’s vehicle and $100 for Franzen’s vehicle. No one was injured.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.