• Tanner S. Auten, 31, of Newton, was charged with consumption in public places on Sept. 29 for allegedly drinking alcohol and singing in a backyard that wasn’t his. Newton Police Department was dispatched to a residence near the 700 block of North Second Avenue East for a call of an intoxicated subject in the backyard. Auten was found sitting in the backyard and was in possession of two open containers of an alcoholic beverage, one of which still contained alcohol. Auten had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, which grew stronger when he spoke, police records say. Auten admitted to consuming alcohol but denied a breath test and sobriety tests when offered. Auten was taken into custody at the Jasper County Jail.
• Gage B. Wedeking, 21, of Newton, was charged with possession of a controlled substance on Oct. 1 after police officers were called to a local liquor store and found he had an active warrant for his arrest, and, upon a search, was found to have marijuana wax on him. Officers were dispatched at 1:06 a.m. to New Star Liquor. When they arrived they observed a group of males standing near the building. Wedeking was identified, and police were then notified of an active warrant for his arrest. Wedeking admitted to having marijuana wax on his person. Police located two small bags in Wedeking’s right pocket. Wedeking said they were his. In addition to the drug charge, Wedeking was also in violation of his probation, police records stated; he was taken into custody at the Jasper County Jail.
• Aaron R. Thompson, 40, of Newton, was charged with second-degree harassment, public intoxication, providing false identification information and interference with official acts for an incident that occurred 11:44 p.m. Oct. 1 near the 700 block of East 24th Street South. Newton Police Department was called to a scene in reference to a suspicious person around a residence, but dispatch was unable to get any more information about the person. When police arrived and met with Thompson outside the home. Police documents said Thompson had slurred speech, bloodshot watery eyes, unstable balance and an odor of an alcoholic beverage. Thompson said he lived at the residence and provided his name but would not give his date of birth. Thompson then said he was born yesterday and forgot his date of birth. The resident advised Thompson he did not live at the home and believed he lived up the street. Thompson was arrested and refused to sit in the patrol vehicle, even though he was asked several times to sit down. The police had to place him in the vehicle. While being transported to the Jasper County Jail, Thompson threatened police with bodily injury. During the intake process, Thompson refused to cooperate with jail procedure and would not provide his information. He had to be placed in a cell for officer safety and have his items removed from him.