Newton Police Department
• Jack E. Beadle, 53, of Hubbard, was arrested at 6:46 a.m. Feb. 17 at TPI on a warrant issued by U.S. Marshals for probation violation, from an original charge of sale of synthetic narcotics. Beadle was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Travis W. Howerton, 32, of Des Moines, was arrested at 9:41 a.m. Feb. 17 at 503 N. Third Ave. E. #7 on a Polk County and Department of Corrections warrants for escape. Howerton was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Melissa A. Morris, 51, of Newton, was charged with fifth-degree theft at 5 p.m. Feb. 12 after police were called to True Value in reference to a shoplifter. Morris told police she attempted to steal $39 worth of items. Morris was released and issued a citation to appear in court.
• Nathan L. McCleary, 38, of Newton, was charged with operating while under the influence and domestic abuse assault, impeding the air and blood flow at 9:40 p.m. Feb. 14 after police were called to an apartment in reference to a physical domestic fight. When police arrived, the victim told police McCleary placed his hands around her neck and began choking her. McCleary reportedly left the residence. Police saw a vehicle driving southbound in the 1500 block of West Fourth Street North. Police stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as McCleary. Police smelled alcohol coming from the vehicle. McCleary told police he had been drinking since 4 p.m. McCleary failed a field sobriety test and his breath test gave a result of .097. McCleary was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• John A. Blyth, 56, of Newton, was charged with operating while under the influence at 8:44 p.m. Feb. 16. Police were called to the intersection of North 23rd Avenue West and Highway 14 North in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Police spoke with witnesses who said they saw the pickup stopped at a stop sign facing eastbound at Highway F36 and Highway 14 North. The driver of the pickup, Blyth, pulled out in front of a semi that had the right of way. Police made contact with Blyth who appeared to have dazed and glazed eyes. He failed a field sobriety test and was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail where his breath test gave a result of .178.
• Robert A. Crooks, 19, of Des Moines, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, at 11:19 p.m. Feb. 17 after police pulled Crooks over for a muffler infraction. Police smelled marijuana and asked him where the marijuana was. Crooks said he didn’t have any but he did have a marijuana pipe with him. Crooks gave police the pipe, which had burnt marijuana residue present in the bowl. Crooks was released and issued a citation to appear in court.
• Nathan J. Etter, 24, of Newton, was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief at 10 a.m. Saturday after Etter went to a house on East 12th Street North and tried to speak with the resident who was inside the garage and tried to close the garage door to keep Etter from entering. Etter reportedly continued to place his foot in front of the garage door sensor to make the garage door go back up. After doing this several times, Etter kicked the garage door sensors with his foot, breaking them, causing $50 in damage. Etter was released and issued a citation to appear in court.
• Qaadir M. Bea, 31, of Newton, was charged with fourth-degree theft at 3:50 a.m. Friday after police were called to Walmart in reference to a theft. The victim told police that they dropped their wallet near the entrance of the store the morning before. Bea, a store employee, can be seen on surveillance video picking up the wallet and allegedly taking $296 in cash from the wallet before putting the wallet behind the customer service desk. When questioned, Bea told police he took the cash and then used the money to pay his bills. He was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.