March 29, 2024

Police Blotter June 24, 2019

Newton Police Department

• Thomas J. Vaughn, 35, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia at approximately 8 p.m. June 18. Newton police were called to Pizza Hut at 1421 First Ave. E., about a male causing a scene. Employees told officers Vaughn was walking towards Hy-Vee Gas. Officers watched Vaughn walk up to the main door and place a backpack down. Vaughn was told not to go back to Pizza Hut. At approximately 8:45 p.m. officers received a call from the Hy-Vee Gas Vaughn had left the backpack and they wanted it removed. Officers took the backpack and were told Vaughn was at the main Hy-Vee causing a scene. Police quickly searched the bag and found drug paraphernalia. Police located Vaughn passed out in the grass on East 17th Street South, with a pipe and lighter in his hand. He was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail. Upon searching the evidence, officers found a bag with a white substance testing positive for methamphetamine.

• Shaun E. Troxel, 33, of Ankeny, was charged with first-degree harassment from an incident that occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. June 9. Troxel sent a nude photograph of the victim to another person to which the victim did not consent. He was given a summons to appear and has a court date set for 8:30 a.m. July 23.

• Brooklynn M. Rawlins, 21, of Colfax, was charged with operating while under the influence at approximately 7:30 p.m. June 18 in the 1000 block of First Avenue East. Newton police received a call about a fight. Upon arrival they saw Rawlins drive her car in the parking lot to a different spot. Police spoke with Rawlins and could smell alcohol and she had bloodshot eyes. Rawlins took the standardized field sobriety tests and failed all three of them, was slurring her speech and was hard to understand. Rawlins refused to take the preliminary breath test or datamaster test. She admitted to drinking earlier in the night. Rawlins was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail. During this incident, Terrance R. Jones, 27, of Newton, was arrested on a Colfax Police Department warrant for second-degree burglary and a Polk County warrant for operating while intoxicated. He was taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Paul L. Harris, 30, of Newton, was charged with assault while displaying a dangerous weapon at midnight June 21 in the 900 block of East 12th Street North. Newton police were called about an assault where the victim had been beaten with a pipe. Police arrived and made contact with the victim who told police Harris held the victim down in the tub and beat the victim with the pipe. The victim had scrapes and red marks on his body. Harris arrived on foot and denied any involvement. Newton police searched Harris and found a chrome metal pipe in his waistband. Harris was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.

• Christian J. Weithers, 18, of Newton, was charged with domestic abuse at 8:30 p.m. June 20 in the 700 block of East 14th Street North. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call about an assault in progress. Upon arriving, police spoke with Weithers in the driveway and made contact with the victim. The victim stated she had arrived and found Weithers on the floor and when told to get up an altercation began and Weithers hit the victim and knocked her down. Weithers was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.