March 28, 2024

Police Blotter

Newton Police Department

• Erin E. Abrams, 22, of Newton was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a possession of drug paraphernalia charge after a vehicle in which she was a passenger was stopped in the 600 block of North Eighth Avenue East. She was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Barrett R. Anderson, 17, of Grinnell was charged with fifth-degree theft after authorities responded to a complaint at 6:43 p.m. Saturday at Walmart. Anderson was charged for allegedly taking a 12-pack of Bud Light. He was charged and referred to juvenile court services.

• Dakota W.C. Cook, 21, homeless, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities were called to the Manhattan at 10:32 p.m. Jan. 29 in reference to a male trying to enter parked cars. Authorities located Cook at Kum & Go and observed he smelled of alcohol. Cook consented to a search, and authorities found a marijuana pipe in his pocket. He was charged and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Lance A. Jones, 22, of Newton was charged with felon in possession of a firearm and trespass after authorities located him at 12:38 p.m. Jan. 31 at 716 E. Fifth St. S. to arrest him on a warrant. The owner of the motorhome stated Jones did not have permission to be inside, and Jones also was charged for allegedly having a .380 pistol in a backpack. Jones had a felony conviction as a juvenile in 2007. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Ricky A. Langford, 44, of Newton was arrested on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving while license suspended after authorities stopped a vehicle in which he was a passenger at 9:22 p.m. Tuesday in the 600 block of East Seventh Street North and determined he was wanted on the warrant. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Curtis S. Lewis, 25, of Grinnell was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief after authorities were dispatched at 7:02 p.m. Jan. 26 to a residence in the 600 block of East Second Street South in reference to a domestic situation. The victim advised Lewis had been removed from the residence the day before and that he is not on the lease. He returned to get some of his property and allegedly forced his way inside by kicking in the door, causing an estimated $10 damage to the door trim. He was charged Jan. 29 and released to appear in court.

• Robert T. McGregor, 24, of Des Moines was charged with operating while intoxicated after authorities responded to a report of a possible fight at 11:38 p.m. Jan. 31 on the north side of the Jasper County Courthouse. Officers entered the Scoreboard and were informed one of the men had walked out the back door. Officers then observed him driving away, and the vehicle was stopped in the 100 block of North Third Avenue East. He was identified as McGregor. McGregor failed sobriety maneuvers, and a breath test indicated a BAC of .294. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Teri L. Meeks, 53, of Newton was cited with failure to obey a stop sign after authorities responded to a two-vehicle accident at 7:18 a.m. Monday at South Fifth Avenue East and East Third Street South. Meeks was traveling east on Fifth Avenue and proceeded into the intersection and Third Street, colliding with a southbound vehicle driven by Casey M. Pierce, 30, of Newton. Meeks’ vehicle had windows that were iced over and a windshield that was only partially scraped. Pierce’s vehicle was not damaged, and Meeks’ vehicle sustained an estimated $1,000 damage.

• Victor P. Peterson, 49, of Newton was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance (Oxycontin) and possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities responded to a report at 8:48 p.m. Jan. 30 of an odor of marijuana coming from an apartment at 315 First St. S. #215 in Newton. Peterson consented to a search, and authorities located a bong, measuring scales, marijuana pipes, rolling papers and two baggies of a green leafy substance and one 40 mg Oxycontin pill, for which Peterson did not have a prescription. Peterson was charged and released to appear in court.

• Melody S. Ryther, 52, of Newton was charged with disorderly conduct after authorities were dispatched at 10:30 p.m. Sunday to 208 E. Fourth St. S. #1 in reference to a loud music complaint. Authorities could hear loud music coming from the apartment, and police had been called to the apartment numerous times within the previous four days. Ryther was charged and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Kendyl J. Simpson, 24, of Newton was charged with third-degree theft after authorities investigated a report received Nov. 18 from a victim stating a check had been written and cashed on an account she and her husband shared. The investigation revealed eight different checks had been forged from Oct. 23 to Nov. 18 and money obtained from two different banks. Six of the checks were written to Simpson and totaled $570. During an interview, Simpson admitted to cashing the checks but said she did not know she wasn’t supposed to cash the checks. The victims confirmed they had personally told Simpson never to cash a check on their account after a previous incident. Simpson was charged at 3 p.m. Saturday and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• James C. Talley, 35, of Newton was charged with domestic assault and obstruction of emergency communications after authorities responded to a complaint of a domestic assault at 9:28 p.m. Sunday at 1774 W. Fourth St. N. #1. Talley was charged for allegedly assaulting a female and preventing her from calling emergency services. Talley was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Gregory B. Vasseau, 19, of Newton was cited with debris on roadway, reckless driving and striking fixtures following a single-vehicle accident at 5:14 a.m. Jan. 25 at West Fourth Street South and Interstate 80. Vasseau was traveling south when he lost control, crossed the center line and struck the guardrail to the bridge, causing severe damage to the rail and the truck. Vasseau then left the scene, driving south and eventually falling into a ravine. His vehicle sustained an estimated $500 damage. The guardrail sustained an estimated $3,000 damage.

• Three individuals were arrested on warrants after authorities located them at 12:48 p.m. Jan. 31 at 716 E. Fifth St. S. in Newton. Those arrested included Casey W. Edwards, 20, of Newton on a warrant for failure to appear in court for trial on a fifth-degree theft charge; Lance A. Jones, 22, of Newton on a warrant for probation violation on an original charge of unlawful possession of a prescription drug and possession of marijuana; and Jessica L. Koder, 26, of Newton on a Mahaska County warrant for failure to appear in court on a larceny charge. All three were transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• A 15-year-old Newton female was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities were notified at 8:45 a.m. Jan. 24 of several Instagram pictures showing the teen smoking marijuana out of a multi-colored bong. Authorities went to her residence and showed her mother the pictures. The mother found the water bong with marijuana residue in the teen’s room. She was charged and referred to juvenile court services.

Jasper County Sheriff’s Office

• Tanner B. Jensen, 23, address unknown, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia after Jasper County Dispatch was notified at 3:01 p.m. Tuesday that a Marion County deputy had picked up an individual wanted on a Jasper County warrant for fourth-degree theft. During a search, Jensen was found with a small baggie containing white crystals along with some needles and a spoon. The crystals tested positive for meth and weighed .8 gram. He was placed in the Jasper County Jail.

• Russel L. Martin, 54, of Des Moines was charged Jan. 25 with operating while intoxicated after authorities responded to complaints from several motorists of another motorist driving erratically. The suspect vehicle was stopped at the 163 mile marker on Interstate 80 at approximately 2:36 a.m. He smelled of alcohol, and a Datamaster test indicated a BAC of .173. Martin was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

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 16 and older.