Newton Police Department
• Luis N. Ramirez Velasquez, 28, of Newton, was charged with domestic abuse from an incident that occurred at 10 p.m. Aug. 14 in the 200 block of West Third Street South. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a domestic call where the victim said Ramirez Velasquez held a knife above his shoulder while arguing with her. The victim hit the knife out of Ramirez Velasquez’s hand and called 911 and then he left the scene. A witness told officers she heard aggressive arguing and it sounded like pushing and shoving going on and then saw Ramirez Velasquez running down the stairs with some clothes. Officers saw the clothes outside of the apartment. A warrant was requested for Ramirez Velasquez and he was arrested on the charge at the Jasper County Jail at 4:08 a.m. Jan. 18.
• Andrew J. Smith, 30, of Newton, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 6 in the 200 block of East Eighth Street South. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call for an unconscious male in the front yard. Officers arrived and met with Smith who was now sitting on the front porch. He appeared to be intoxicated and admitted he had three shots of “90 proof” prior to their arrival. Smith claimed to have had a seizure and had a large cut on his head. He was seen by the ambulance crew and transported to MercyOne Newton Medical Center. Newton police said at 3 p.m. they were asked to go to MercyOne Newton by the ambulance crew who said they had taken off Smith’s jacket while treating him and a marijuana pipe fell out of an inside pocket. The ambulance crew handed officers a multi-colored marijuana pipe with a green leafy substance still in it. Smith was cited and released.