Newton woman arrested after multiple trespass incidents, assault, assault on officers

A 59-year-old Newton woman has been charged following multiple incidents spanning several days.

According to one criminal complaint, the Newton Police Department was dispatched at 1:38 a.m. Jan. 2 to Poor Bastards Bar in reference to an assault.

According to the victim, Melody S. Ryther, of Newton, entered the establishment and asked to use the phone. When the victim said no, Ryther became upset and began shouting obscenities at the victim. With the help of an employee, the victim attempted to assist Ryther out of the bar. At this time, she punched the victim in the head.

Officers noted a redness to the side of the victim’s face. Ryther admitted to striking the victim but claimed it was in self-defense. Ryther was placed under arrest and was moved to a patrol car. While the door was still open, she kicked the door open wide and refused to place her legs back in the car, despite several requests from officers to do so. Newton Police had to physically put her legs in the vehicle. Ryther was charged with assault causing bodily injury or mental illness and interference with official acts.

In a separate incident the previous day, officers were called at 12:54 a.m. Jan. 1 to the AmericInn in Newton in reference to an unwanted person. According to the criminal complaint, Ryther told officers she wanted a room and refused to leave. She then told police to arrest and take her to jail. Staff at the hotel said they couldn’t rent her a room because she did not have a credit card. Ryther had already been told to leave earlier that night.

Ryther got into a vehicle and refused to get out when requested to do so by police. Officers attempted to take her into custody and remove her from the vehicle. She still refused to leave the car. Police took Ryther by the arms to remove her from the car at which point she threw herself to the ground. Officers placed Ryther in handcuffs and got her to her feet to walk her to the patrol car. She attempted to throw herself on the ground multiple times. Ryther then kicked the officer in the leg.

After complaining of pain, paramedics examined her and cleared her of any injury. She was transported to the Jasper County Jail. She was charged with trespass, assault on an officer and interference of official acts.

Earlier in the evening, officers were called to Love’s Truck Stop at 11:44 p.m. Dec. 31 for an unwanted person. Officers trespassed her from the property, but she returned to the store after midnight and police were called again. She was cited for trespass and released.

At 9:40 a.m. Dec. 31, Ryther was charged with assault on an officer in a separate incident at Integrated Treatment Services. According to the criminal complaint, the NPD was dispatched because Ryther was in the business without pants on and was causing issues. While speaking to officers, she began to yell and walk past officers to the restroom. She shoved the officer in the torso with both hands. She was charged with assault on persons in certain occupations. She was cited and released.

Then in another unrelated incident at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 26, she was charged with trespass in the 1300 block of First Avenue East where she entered a detached garage on the property and urinated on the floor. The property is marked with no trespassing signs and she did not have permission to be there. The owner has surveillance photos of the event and Ryther admitted to doing what she was accused of.

Ryther remains at the Jasper County Jail for the Jan. 2 charges of assault and interference. Combined bond for those charges has been set at $2,000 cash or surety. Her preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Jan. 6.