Newton Police Department
• Zachary M. Lambertus, 20, of Newton, was charged with assault at 11:57 a.m. June 5 in the 400 block of North Second Avenue E. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call for a domestic fight. While in route officers were told that the reporting party heard a female yell "stop choking me." The victim asked Lambertus to leave her apartment. Lambertus refused and a verbal argument occurred that turned into a physical altercation. Lambertus pulled the victim's hair, kicked the victim in the legs and kneed the victim in the face. The victim also suffered a cut on her right thumb and had redness on her wrists from Lambertus grabbing her arms. Lambertus was cited and released to appear in court.
• Melody S. Ryther, 58, of Newton, was charged with simple assault at 1 p.m. June 5 in the 900 block of South Fifth Avenue East. According to the Newton Police Department officers responded to a call for a woman who had her purse taken from another woman. Upon arrival, officers saw Ryther arguing with three other individuals on the sidewalk. After speaking with the involved parties officers determined that Ryther became angry when the victim asked her what she was doing in the backyard of a residence that she did not live at. Ryther then admitted that she knocked the victim's phone out of her hand as she was attempting to take a photo of her and then took her purse out of her car and threw it on the ground in an attempt to engage in a fight. Ryther was cited and released to appear in court.
• Joseph A. Conkling, 43, of Perkins, Okla., was charged with operating while under the influence at 6:23 p.m. June 2 in the 600 block of East 10th Street North. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call in reference to a male in the street throwing objects at houses. Officers were told the subject entered a vehicle and began driving east. Conkling was seen driving the vehicle on a public roadway. A traffic stop was initiated due to the vehicle having no plate information. Conkling pulled into a driveway and upon contact Conkling admitted to being intoxicated by alcohol. Conkling had the smell of alcohol coming from his person and he was slurring his speech. Conkling was unable to keep his balance on his own and was stumbling. Conkling was offered the standardized field sobriety tests and preliminary breath tests but refused both. Conkling resisted arrest and was combative with officers. Conkling was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.