Newton Police Department
• Hailey S. Cowman, 23, of Kellogg, was charged with three counts of fifth-degree theft from incidents that occurred at 6:39 p.m. Aug. 4, noon July 26 and noon Aug. 26 in the 300 block of Iowa Speedway Drive. According to the Newton Police Department, Cowman was caught on camera by Walmart taking items and putting them into a makeup bag and not paying for them, as well as a robe that totaled $63.56. Cowman was caught on camera taking shoes with her into the break room while at work and putting them into her bag and exiting the store without paying and the shoes totaled $24.98. Also, Cowman was caught on camera scanning the bar code for cookies totaling $.88 and then taking muffins costing $4.28. Cowman admitted to the three separate instances of theft. She was cited and released to appear in court.
• Michele B. Edwards, 56, of Newton, was charged with second-degree criminal mischief form an incident that occurred at 7:25 p.m. June 29 in the 300 block of West Second Street South. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call in the 300 block of West Second Street South of a car being keyed. Officers observed a white car with a scratch all the way down the driver’s side and spoke to a witness who saw the incident and others that could identify the defendant. One witness described tattoos on the right should of what looked like an upside-down triangle in the right shoulder. Edwards has a butterfly tattoo in the shape of a “V” on her right shoulder and she admitted to being in the area of the crime. She was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.