March 29, 2024

Police Blotter

Newton Police Department

• Matthew L. Barnes, 24, of Grinnell was charged with reckless use of a firearm and simple domestic assault after authorities responded to a dispute at 9:26 p.m. April 19 at his residence in Grinnell. Barnes was charged for allegedly kicking in the front door of the victim’s residence, entering the home and spraying him in the eyes with an unknown chemical, causing temporary blindness and pain. Barnes then allegedly took a loaded shotgun outside the home and fired one shot. He stated he shot the gun into the air to scare his son away from the property. Barnes was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Alyssa M. Bright, 23, of Newton was charged with aiding and abetting the violation of a no-contact order after authorities stopped her at 1:09 p.m. April 15 in the 700 block of North Sixth Avenue East after observing the passenger not wearing a seatbelt. Authorities determined there was a no-contact order between Bright and the passenger. Bright was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Todd G. Bowers, 39, of Newton was cited with unsafe backing after authorities responded to an accident at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of North Fourth Avenue East. Bowers was backing out of a parking lot when he struck a parked vehicle owned by Scott D. Harter of Newton. Harter’s vehicle sustained an estimated $1,400 damage, and Bowers’ vehicle was not damaged.

• Michael D. Cassady, 35, of Newton was charged with simple assault after authorities responded to an assault complaint at 5:27 a.m. April 14 at TPI. The victim stated Cassady had choked him in the parking lot. Cassady was located at 1:03 p.m. April 19 when he was stopped in the 200 block of East Fifth Street North for having a defective muffler. He also was charged with driving while license suspended and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Scott G. DeKoning, 43, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped him at 11:23 p.m. Thursday in the 700 block of East Fourth Street North for having an inoperable brake light. He was charged and released to appear in court.

• Edwin R. Dobbs, 24, of Newton was charged with possession of marijuana and public intoxication, second offense, and Michael D. Petersen, 59, of Newton was charged with public intoxication after authorities responded to a report of an intoxicated male lying in a parking lot at 9:03 p.m. April 17 at 315 E. Second St. S. The man lying in the parking lot, identified as Dobbs, smelled of alcohol and could not keep his balance. He was arrested and transported to the Skiff Medical Center Emergency Room to be checked out. There, authorities found two baggies of marijuana, weighing less than five grams, in his pockets. Petersen was found lying on the hallway floor of the apartment building. He had slurred speech, and a preliminary breath test indicated at BAC of .206. Petersen also was taken to Skiff, and both men later were transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Christopher B. Hasselbrink, 22, of Newton was charged with fifth-degree criminal mischief and providing false identification information after authorities responded to a complaint of a domestic fight at 12:35 p.m. Thursday at a residence in the 100 block of North 16th Avenue West. Hasselbrink allegedly damaged a curtain rod and wall and gave officers a false name during the investigation. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Anthony M. Houle, 34, of Newton was charged with public intoxication, third offense, after authorities responded to an assault at 12:11 a.m. Friday at a residence in the 400 block of East Fourth Street South. Authorities observed Houle walking away from the area and stopped him. He smelled of alcohol and failed sobriety tests. A preliminary breath test indicated a BAC of higher than .08. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Scott M. Koopmans, 42, of Newton was cited with disobey traffic signal after authorities responded to a two-vehicle accident at 5:41 p.m. Wednesday. Koopmans was traveling east on First Avenue East, stopped briefly at the flashing stop light, entered the intersection and struck the rear quarter panel of a southbound vehicle driven by Albert J. Thomas, 56, of Newton as he was driving through the intersection. Each vehicle sustained an estimated $1,300 damage.

• Donnie W. Ringgenberg, 54, of Newton was charged with violation of a no-contact order after authorities responded to a domestic assault at 4:34 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of North Eighth Avenue East. The victim stated Ringgenberg followed her for several blocks, ran her off the road in the 200 block of North Eighth Avenue East and got into her vehicle with her. He was charged and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Dean D. Rusher, 48, of Newton was charged with driving while license suspended after authorities stopped him at 12:11 p.m. Saturday in the 400 block of South Third Avenue East for having an inoperable brake light and determined his license had been suspended. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

• Jordan M. Sexton, 17, of Newton was cited with unsafe backing on highway after authorities responded to an accident at 6:57 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of West 10th Street North. Sexton was backing out of a driveway when he struck a legally parked vehicle owned by Kerry J. Walker of Newton. Walker’s vehicle sustained an estimated $2,000 damage, and Sexton’s vehicle was not damaged.

• Steven W. Six, 50, of Newton was arrested on a Jasper County warrant for probation violation after authorities were called to the adult probation office at 4:11 p.m. April 16 in reference to a man wanted on a warrant. He was transported to the Jasper County Jail.

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.