March 19, 2024

Police Blotter

• Mackenzie L. Carter, 19, of Newton was arrested at 7:33 p.m. April 4 at Walmart following a report of theft from store management. She was alleged to have concealed a package of Loom Bands worth $5.32 and attempted to leave without paying for them. She was charged with fifth-degree theft and taken to jail. Prior to arriving at the Jasper County Jail, Carter told officers she had four Naproxen pills without a prescription. At the jail, she was found to be in possession of a spoon, numerous small empty baggies and cotton swabs, which are suspected to be usedinject, inhale or otherwise consume drugs. Carter was additionally charged with possession of prescription drugs without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Ryan Eric Dearinger, 42, of Newton was arrested at 6:45 p.m. April 2 in the 1000 block of East 12th Street North following an investigation into an alleged theft from Shoe Department. Store management reported at approximately 6:44 p.m. March 26 that a man had stolen a pair of boots valued at $69.54, leaving his old boots behind before fleeing on foot. One of the store employees had worked with Dearinger at a previous job and identified him for officers. He was later located, arrested and charged with fifth-degree theft and taken to jail.

• Mary R. Feehan, 41, of Newton was arrested at 6:29 p.m. April 6 at in the 200 block of North Fourth Avenue East following a report of an out-of-control patient. Police were called to the Skiff Medical Center emergency room because Feehan had left the hospital; she was to be committed instead. She had been brought to Skiff earlier due to mental health concerns. She was located outside and was asked to return; she refused and began to walk away. Officers grabbed Feehan by the arm, but she pulled away. She was placed against a patrol car, but she continued to resist, biting one officer in the arm, breaking the skin, and kicking another. She was forcibly returned to Skiff, where she again kicked an officer. As Feehan was being handcuffed after receiving medical attention, she attempted to grab an officer's Taser, unsnapping the flap on his holster. Feehan was charged with felonious interference with official acts, assault on a peace officer causing bodily injury, interference with official acts causing bodily injury, and assault on a peace officer and was taken to jail.

• Randy S. Lanz, 47, of Fenton was arrested at 5:09 p.m. April 4 following an alleged theft from Walmart. Store management reported a man had stolen gift cards worth approximately $200 and fled on foot. The man, later identified as Lanz, was apprehended at the Casey's General Store nearby and admitted he was the person involved in the Walmart theft. Store management said it had received a call from the Grinnell store alleging he took gift cards from that store, as well. Lanz was charged with fifth-degree theft and taken to jail.

• Travis W. Howerton, 30, of Kellogg was arrested shortly before 11 a.m. March 31 following an alleged gas drive-off at Petro Stop in Newton. Management reported a gas drive-off at 9:45 a.m. resulting in the theft of $40.03 in fuel. Howerton was located approximately an hour later and admitted to stealing the fuel because he didn't have the money to pay for it. He was charged with fifth-degree theft and taken to jail. Howerton also was arrested at 12:33 p.m. Saturday at Skiff Medical Center following a report of an out-of-control patient. Upon arrival, officers were told Howerton was being released from the hospital to be transported to the Jasper County Jail, at which time he resisted and ignored officers' commands. He had to be physically restrained by officers and placed in handcuffs. He was charged with interference with official acts and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Nathan L. McCleary, 35, of Newton was cited by police on April 2 following a report the previous evening of alleged shoplifting at Fareway. Store management reported at approximately 8:59 p.m. April 1 that a woman had concealed bottles of alcohol and left the store in a vehicle registered to McCleary. The vehicle was located soon thereafter parked at McCleary's residence. McCleary claimed he loaned the vehicle to an ex-girlfriend. He refused to allow officers to search his residence for the suspect. She later confessed to the theft and admitted she was inside McCleary's home when officers interviewed him. During a second interview with officers, McCleary admitted he lied to protect his girlfriend and that he consumed the stolen alcohol after officers left, knowing it had been stolen. He provided officers with the stolen bottles, each of which had been approximately three-fourths consumed. McCleary was cited for fifth-degree theft and harassment of public officers and released to appear.

• Randall G. Meyer, 54, of Newton was arrested at 11:21 a.m. April 4 following a traffic stop in the 300 block of East 12th Street South. Meyer had been stopped for a brake light infraction, erratic driving and being known to be under suspension. He was arrested for driving while license suspended. During an inventory of the vehicle before it was towed, officers discovered a 1-gram baggie of methamphetamine in the center console and $999 in cash. Meyer was charged with possession of methamphetamine and taken to jail.

• Officers investigated a two-vehicle crash at 5:28 p.m. April 1 in the 1900 block of South Seventh Avenue East. A vehicle driven by Constance J. Docekal, 63, of Newton was traveling east on South Seventh Avenue East when it struck a legally parked vehicle owned by Ronda M. Partelow-Kupitz of Newton. Partelow-Kupitz' vehicle was pushed several feet. No one was injured. Damage to Partelow-Kupitz' vehicle was estimated at $800. Damage to Docekal's vehicle was estimated at $1,000. Docekal was cited for failure to maintain control.

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.