March 19, 2024

Police Blotter

• Officers investigated a two-vehicle crash that occurred at 2:13 p.m. on March 27 in the 100 block of West Second Street North. A legally parked vehicle owned by Robert Lee Vanderleest on the east side of the street was struck by a vehicle driven by Derek A. Welshhons. Welshhons was backing from a parking spot on the west side of the street and attempted to go south when his vehicle struck the side of Vanderleest’s vehicle, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Welshhons said his foot slipped off the brake and onto the accelerator. He was cited for unsafe backing.

• Mark T. Faircloth, 45, of Newton was arrested at 2:25 p.m. on March 27 at the Adult Probation Office on a Jasper County warrant for parole violation. He was taken to jail.

• Nicole L. Clark, 35, and Ray Douglas Meyer, no age given, both of Newton were cited by deputies at 2:46 p.m. on March 28 in the 500 block of South Fifth Avenue East during a traffic stop related to an earlier burglary-in-progress call. Meyer was driving the vehicle and allegedly admitted to being suspended and not having insurance. Clark was allegedly in possession of a backpack that contained multiple plastic baggies containing a white residue and a small plastic container with a small amount of green leafy substance that had an odor of marijuana coming from it. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Meyer was arrested for driving while license suspended and while the vehicle was inventoried, a small plastic baggie was allegedly discovered behind the driver’s seat, weighing 0.3 grams and testing positive for methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine first offense.

• Officers investigated a three-vehicle crash that occurred at 5:59 p.m. on March 28 at the intersection of Iowa Speedway Drive and South 13th Avenue East/East 36th Street South. All three vehicles were northbound on Iowa Speedway Drive when Deborah J. Wooldridge signalled and stopped her vehicle for oncoming traffic to make a lefthand turn onto South 13th Avenue East. A vehicle driven by Cynthia L. Smith of Colfax stopped behind Wooldridge’s. Dennis A. Tool of Prairie City failed to stop and his vehicle struck the rear of Smith’s vehicle, causing it to strike Wooldridge’s vehicle. Wooldridge complained of neck pain; Laura A. Smith, a passenger in Cynthia Smith’s vehicle, had a leg injury and was transported to the hospital by a family member. Tool was cited for following too closely.

• James J. Hannagan, no age given, of Newton was cited by deputies at 10:15 p.m. on March 28 in the 1300 block of East 36th Street South after deputies investigated a single-vehicle crash. He allegedly had an odor of an alcoholic beverage, had difficulty maintaining his balance, failed a field sobriety tests and failed a field breath test. A second breath test administered with a DataMaster device indicated a blood-alcohol content of 0.171 percent. Officers also allegedly discovered marijuana, a scale, three Vyvanse pills and plastic bags in a backpack behind the driver’s seat of Hannagan’s vehicle. He was charged with OWI first offense, possession of marijuana, possession of Vyvanse and possession of drug paraphernalia and released to appear.

• Rusty L.C. Lewis, no age given, of Newton was cited by deputies at 8:14 a.m. on March 29 following an investigation into an alleged shoplifting incident at Walmart. A loss control agent allegedly observed Lewis conceal a set of sunglasses valued at $16.01 down the front of his pants, then walk through the checkout without paying for them. The sunglasses were retrieved. Lewis was banned from the store as a result of the incident. He was charged with fifth-degree theft and released to appear.

• Richard E. Keller, 32, of Newton was arrested at 4:46 p.m. on March 29 in the 400 block of East 25th Street North on a Jasper County warrant for failure to appear at a child support hearing. He was taken to jail.

• Michael S. Plumb, no age given, of Newton was arrested at 11:26 p.m. on March 29 in the 1500 block of First Avenue East during a traffic stop for alleged speeding. Plumb is alleged to have smelled strongly of alcohol and to have admitted to drinking one beer. He allegedly failed field sobriety tests and refused to provide a breath sample at the scene. After read Iowa’s implied consent law, he consented to a breath test using a DataMaster device, which indicated a .175 blood-alcohol content. He was charged with OWI first offense and taken to jail.

• Hank L. Benson, 25, of Kellogg was arrested at 10:39 p.m. on March 30 in the 400 block of South Fifth Avenue East during a traffic stop. He had been stopped for driving a vehicle with non-functioning taillights when he allegedly told a deputy his driver’s license wasn’t valid. DOT records indicted Benson was barred from driving until June of 2016. He was charged with driving while license barred and taken to jail.

• Tammy R. Davis, 35, of Newton was arrested at 12:24 a.m. on March 31 in the 400 block of North Second Avenue East on two Jasper County warrants for probation violation. She was taken to jail.

• Kedrick M. Weithers Jr., 47, who is homeless, was arrested at 8:45 p.m. on March 31 following an altercation with a juvenile who was visiting Weithers’ niece. When police attempted to take him into custody, Weithers allegedly stood in an aggressive manner, tensed up several times and pushed back into officers after he was placed into handcuffs. A taser was displayed by officers, but not used. Weithers was charged with simple assault and interference with official acts and taken to jail.

• Jennifer L. Atwood, 35, of Newton was arrested at 8:44 a.m. on April 1 at the Adult Probation Office on a Jasper County warrant for probation violation. She was taken to jail.

• Julie A. Miller, 52, of Montezuma was arrested at 9:02 a.m. on April 1 at the Jasper County Courthouse on a Linn County warrant for probation violation. She was taken to jail.

• Jasmine M. Edmisson, 21, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended at 2:55 a.m. on April 2 following a traffic stop in the 1800 block of West Fourth Street North. She was released to appear.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. It is the policy of the Newton Daily News to release the names of individuals charged with a crime who are 16 and older.