Newton Police Department
• Christopher D. Holbert, 30, of Newton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia from an incident that occurred at 6:36 p.m. Aug. 21, 2019, in the 700 block of East 10th Street North. According to the Newton Police Department, officers located Holbert and he had an active warrant for his arrest. Holbert was placed under arrest to confirm the warrant and multiple syringes were located in his backpack. After being read his Miranda Rights, Holbert described exactly where the syringe was located. Holbert stated the syringe belonged to a "friend" who was supposed to clean his backpack. Additional syringes were located in his backpack at the jail. Holbert also stated those syringes were for his "diabetes." Contents from a loaded syringe were sent to the DCI. The liquid substance tested as methamphetamine. Officers attempted to locate Holbert at his home address and there was no answer. Holbert was arrested at 10:30 p.m. June 18 in the 200 block of East 12th Street North on warrants for the two charges and another Jasper County warrant for failure to appear for a pre-trial conference on an assault charge and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Scott A. Dawson, 48, of Newton, was charged with domestic abuse at 2:55 p.m. June 17 in the 400 block of First Avenue West. According to the Newton Police Department, Dawson assaulted the victim and punched the victim in the face multiple times. The victim sustained injury to the face. The victim had visible blood and cuts on his face. Dawson and the victim had been in an argument over the victim leaving items around the property. The argument then turned physical. Officers on scene advised that Dawson admitted to throwing the first punch. Dawson was taken into custody and charged with domestic abuse.
• Christopher S. McClurg, 29, of Newton, was charged with domestic abuse at 9:43 p.m. June 18 in the 400 block of East Second Street South. According to the Newton Police Department, McClurg was involved in a fight with the victim. The victim notified law enforcement of the incident and stated McClurg came home intoxicated and struck her in the chest and neck area causing redness and swelling. The incident was viewed by two other witnesses who described to law enforcement they saw McClurg hit and grab the victim in the living room. McClurg was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Michelle N. Vansickle, 25, of Newton, was charged with fifth-degree theft from an incident that occurred at 12:04 a.m. May 30 in the 1800 block of South 12th Avenue West. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call for shoplifting. Officers arrived an spoke with a Newton 66 employee. The employee said a female, identified as Vansickle, had left the store with merchandise that had not been paid for. The employee stated Vansickle entered the store and grabbed a Slim Jim beef stick. Vansickle then proceeded to to the ice cream cooler and then the counter. Vansickle paid for an ice cream bar and a Tillamook beef stick while the Slim Jim beef stick was concealed in Vansickle's hooded sweatshirt pocket. Vansickle left the store without paying for the Slim Jim beef stick. The Slim Jim beef stick was valued at $1.49. VanSickle was taken into custody on the warrant from Altoona Police Department and transferred to the Jasper County Jail.
• Zachary B. Herr, 22, of Newton, was charged with third-degree criminal mischief at 11:12 p.m. June 18 in the 700 block of East 23rd Street South. According to the Newton Police Department, officers responded to a call for a domestic assault complaint. During the course of the investigation, Herr admitted to destroying a television that belonged to the victim. The TV was valued at $750. Herr was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Amy M. Cunningham, 45, of Newton, was charged with operating while under the influence at 1:47 a.m. June 21 on Highway 14. According to the Newton Police Department, officers stopped Cunningham in her vehicle for driving without taillights. Officers said Cunningham smelled of alcohol and had red,watery eyes. Cunningham admitted to consuming " two vodka cranberries." Cunningham completed field sobriety testing and was determined to be impaired. A preliminary breath test was provided indicating a breath alcohol concentration over .08. Cuningham provided another sample for the datamaster which registered a BAC of .125. Cunningham was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Hank L. Benson, 32, of Kellogg, was charged with eluding, driving while barred and cited three times for failure to obey a stop sign, passing on a grade or a hill and fraudulent use of registration from an incident that occurred at 5:47 a.m. April 20 in the 700 block of Union Drive. According to the Newton Police Department, officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop and activated their emergency lights. Benson failed to stop for the emergency lights and continued north. Officers activated their sirens and continued to pursue Benson. The speed limit on Union Drive is 35 miles per hour, and Benson's speed was in excess of 85 mph on Union Drive. Additionally, officers recognized Benson and his vehicle and they had previously cited him for driving while license barred. Additionally, at 1:16 a.m. June 16 officers noticed a male they identified as Benson. Officers already had charges for him. Officers searched Benson's person and found a black bag in his right front pocket. Officers opened the bag and found what appeared to be marijuana, three white pills and a glass pipe. Officers went back to the NPD where they tested the marijuana with a test kit, and it tested positive. Officers also tested the glass with the white substance, and this substance inside the pipe tested positive for methamphetamine. According to pillfinder.com in the other white bag was Lorazepam and Diazepam. For this Benson was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of unlawful possession of a prescription drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Benson was arrested and taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Rahela M. Ray, 23, homeless, was charged with operating while under the influence and driving while license denied or revoked at 3:55 a.m. June 15. According to the Newton Police Department, officers conducted a traffic stop on Ray because the registered owner showed a status of revoked. When officers spoke with Ray, they could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage and her speech was slurred. Officers asked Ray if she had been drinking and she stated she had. Ray displayed six of six clues on the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and refused the walk and turn and the one leg stand. Ray submitted a breath test of .209. During the traffic stop officers confirmed Ray had a driving status of revoked. Ray was taken to the Jasper County Jail.
• Melody S. Ryther, 58, of Newton, was charged with trespass at 8:46 p.m. June 14 at Git & Go for being on the property after having been trespassed previously from the premises. She was cited and released to appear in court.
