Newton Police Department
• Hank L. Benson, 25, of Newton was charged with driving while license barred and cited for failure to obey a traffic control light after an officer performed a routine traffic stop at 6:40 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of East 17th Street North and First Avenue East. Benson drove into a Hy-Vee parking lot and began walking out of the vehicle. Officers questioned him about his driving habits, and he said the car was not his and he did not have a license. Benson was placed in jail.
• Jessie M. Ferguson, 49, of Newton was cited for unsafe backing after officers were dispatched at 3:26 p.m. Friday to 100 W. Fourth St. N. on report of an accident. Ferguson was backing up and struck a vehicle that was driven by Jeremy R. Claussen, 26, of Newton. No one was injured in the accident, but Claussen’s vehicle sustained $500 in damage.
• Joseph T. Hedman, 33, of Newton was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and cited for speeding, driving while license suspended and driving with an open container after officers performed a routine traffic stop at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday at 1700 E. 19th St. N. After pulling him over, officers noticed a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. Hedman refused several chemical tests, and after completing a vehicle inventory, an officer discovered a freshly opened beer in the center console. He was released to appear in court.
• Brian N. Hoffman, 41, of Exira was charged with public intoxication after officers were dispatched at 6:45 p.m. Saturday to the Iowa Speedway on report of an intoxicated person. He failed a field sobriety test and refused a chemical test later. He was placed in jail.
• Amy S. Sink, 34, of Newton was charged with serious assault after she came to the Police Department July 28 in reference to an incident in which officers were dispatched at 2:58 p.m. July 27 to 1420 First St. N. on report of an assault. That night, the victim was giving Sink a ride home when she was attempting to put the car in park. The victim had placed his hand on the gear shift to prevent Sink from putting the car in park, and Sink scratched the victim’s hand. She was released to appear in court.
• Two 15-year-old Newton males were charged with possession of marijuana and one was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after officers were dispatched at 11:04 p.m. July 29 to 721 First St. S. on report of a wanted subject at the residence. The officer said he witnessed the two attempt to hide drugs and drug paraphernalia under a mattress.
Newton Police Department
• Gabe D. Vannevel, 36, of Poweshiek was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana after officers were dispatched at 5:40 p.m. on Friday to 1915 E. Fifth S. S. on report of a burglary alarm. Vannevel was at a waste water treatment plant and had permission to be there since he was working for a company that was working at the plant. Officers saw a glass pipe and later discovered a green leafy substance. He was released to appear in court.