March 19, 2024

Police Blotter

Newton Police Department

• Lawrence A. Hada, 45, is charged with trespassing after authorities were called to 904 N. Sixth Ave. E. #3 at 1:35 p.m. Thursday. Officers were called after Hada was found in the apartment after he had been told previously not to return to the residence after a Feb. 8 incident. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Laura K. Hinshaw, 32, of Newton, is charged with possession of controlled substance after authorities pulled her over in the 500 block of East Third Street South at 9:02 p.m. Dec. 30. Officers found Hinshaw to have a suspended license and after placing her under arrest did an inventory of the vehicle where they located a baggy containing marijuana. She was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Renee L. Chalmers, 27, of Dow City, is charged with unauthorized use of credit card after authorities were called to 100 N. Second Ave. W. at 11:50 a.m. Feb. 3. The victim reported her ATM card had been stolen and $150 was taken out of her account without her permission. The victim said she had a suspect and reported Chalmers. Officers looked at the security video from the time the money was taken out and it showed a female in a gray Ford Taurus, which is Chalmers’ vehicle. Upon arrest, Chalmers denied taking the card but said that she did know the pin number and used it with permission on one earlier occasion. She was cited and released to appear.

• Curtis W. Thorson, 53, of Newton, is charged with operating while under the influence and open container after authorities pulled him over in the 500 block of First Avenue West at 11:17 p.m. Sunday. Officers were called on a reckless driver that almost hit the overpass. Officers located the vehicle and found Thorson smelled of alcohol and had red, watery eyes. He had a BAC of .127. He requested an additional test at his own expense and was taken to Skiff Medical Center. He was then taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Michael L. Balk, 22, of Newton, is charged with operating while under the influence after authorities pulled him over in the 1200 block of East 12th Street South at 2:01 a.m. Saturday. Officers smelled alcohol coming from Balk and he had bloodshot, watery eyes. He admitted he had been at a bar and had four to five beers. He had a BAC of .122. He was cited and released to appear.

• Jeffrey J. Poague, 44, of Columbus, NC, is charged with operating while under the influence, possession of controlled substance, controlled substance violation, used or expired drug tax stamp and possession of drug paraphernalia after authorities were called to 2300 N. 33rd Ave. E. at 11:42 p.m. Sunday. Officers were called on a verbal dispute when they saw Poague exiting a running truck. He was placed under arrest for OWI after authorities smelled alcohol on him and he had watery eyes and slurred speech. He also had a BAC of .157. While searching him officers found marijuana and oxycodone hydrochloride. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Dwight E. Vos, 52, of Newton, is charged with failure to obey a stop sign and yield right of way after authorities were called to the intersection of North Eighth Avenue East and First Street North at 11:43 a.m. Monday. Vera Church was traveling northbound on First Street North when Vos pulled out from a stop sign, the front end of his vehicle hitting the passenger’s side of her vehicle. Vos had approximately $200 in damage and Church had approximately $1,000 in damage. He was cited and released to appear.