Two from Newton Facing Theft Charges After Investigation

Posted on February 16, 2018February 16, 2018 by Rick Watts

(JASPER COUNTY, Iowa)–On Monday, Feb. 12, after a lengthy investigation, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office was able to arrest two subjects for multiple thefts and related charges.

Charles Loudermilk, age 49, of Newton, was one of the two subjects arrested. Deputies had an active arrest warrant for Loudermilk, as well as additional charges of burglary. Deputies attempted to stop Loudermilk, but he tried to flee, driving through a ditch. Deputies used legal intervention and stopped Loudermilk. The vehicle Loudermilk was operating was reported stolen in Jasper County on Dec. 24, 2017. Inside the vehicle, Deputies recovered a firearm. Loudermilk was taken into custody and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

A second vehicle in the area attempted to elude deputies. The vehicle was eventually stopped in the 6800 block of Cone Street. The driver, identified as Kristen Miller, age 34, of Newton, was also arrested and transported to the Jasper County Jail.

During the last several months, numerous burglaries were reported by residents of Jasper County. Vehicles, construction equipment, trailers, tools, horse tack and other personal items were reported stolen.

Based upon information developed during the investigation, a search warrant was executed Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018 at a residence in Reasnor, in Jasper County. During the search, Deputies recovered stolen property from some of these reported burglaries. The property recovered was valued at approximately $125,000. Deputies have identified some of the owners of the property. Property reported stolen from Poweshiek County was also recovered at this location. Additional follow up is being conducted in identifying all of the property recovered.

Loudermilk was charged with: Theft 1st Degree (property in excess of $10,000) – Class C Felony Theft 2nd Degree – possession of stolen vehicle – Class D Felony Possession of firearm by a felon – Class D Felony.
Loudermilk is being held on No Bond. He is also being held on a previous five year prison sentence (Iowa Department of Corrections), after he failed to turn himself in to authorities.

Miller was charged with: Theft 2nd degree – Class D Felony Carrying Weapons – Aggravated Misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana – Serious Misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance (2 counts) – Serious Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia- Simple Misdemeanor. Miller had a bond set by a judge at $5,000.

Follow up investigation continues and additional criminal charges against the subjects are pending. Information from the public, along with assistance from the Newton Police Department and MINE EAST Task Force, allowed investigators to focus on these two subjects.

Anyone with additional information in reference to this investigation or reported burglaries is encouraged to contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

Criminal charges against both subjects are merely allegations and they should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

– This information is from a news release provided by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

Kellogg Under Boil Advisory in Jasper County

Posted on January 3, 2018 by Rick Watts

(KELLOGG, Iowa)—A break in a small water main in the 300 block of High Street Tuesday afternoon caused the City of Kellogg to lose water pressure for about an hour.

Loss of pressure can allow bacteria to enter the water distribution system.

The city completed repairs about 8 p.m. Jan. 2, but is advising residents to boil water as a precaution. Bring all water used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth or preparing food to a boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using. Or, use bottled water. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

Tap water can be used for bathing and similar purposes.

The city will collect and test four sets of water samples, taken 24 hours apart, to determine when the water is safe and the advisory can be lifted.

For more information, call the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 for general guidelines on ways to reduce risks of infection.

Newton Resident Arrested, Charged with Theft and Felon in Control of Firearm

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Rick Watts

Owners of a rural farm residence northwest of Newton reported a burglary with multiple items missing, including a skid-loader and ATV on Tuesday, Dec. 26.

While deputies were investigating the incident, the owner reported seeing their skid-loader and ATV parked at a residence located at 1954 W 32nd Street N in Newton, IA.

Deputies made contact with a resident, identified as 34-year-old Matthew Bakalar of this residence. A subsequent investigation and search warrant at the property allowed deputies to recover suspected additional stolen property. Included in these items was a truck reported stolen to Newton Police Department on Dec. 21, and a handgun reported stolen from Marion County. Additional firearms were also recovered.

Investigation continues in this case. Deputies charged Bakalar with:

Theft First Degree (property valued in excess of $10,000) Class C Felony
Felon in Control of a Firearm- Class D Felony
Possession of a controlled substance- (3rd or subsequent offense) = Class D Felony
Theft Fourth Degree – Serious misdemeanor (handgun)

Bakalar was transported to the Jasper County Jail and is currently being held on $41,000 bond.

All criminal charges are merely allegations and the subject should be considered innocent until proven guilty.

Deceased Person Found at Origin of Grass Fire

Posted on November 27, 2017 by Rick Watts

On November 25th, shortly before 3 PM the Grinnell Fire Department responded to a report of a lot of smoke between Highway 6 and 20 th Street west of Grinnell. Firefighters responded and found a fast moving grass fire just west of 101 Highway 6. As firefighters attacked the fire they located a fire victim at the point of origin.

The victim, identified as 86-year-old Dr. Bernhard Wiltfang, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fire burned approximately 40 acres and 70 hay bales. Grinnell Fire was on scene for three-and-a-half hours and was assisted on scene by Gilman Fire, Kellogg Fire, Midwest Ambulance, Poweshiek County Sheriff’s Office and Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

Both the fire and the fatality appear to have been accidental in nature.

Knoxville Man Sentenced On Enticement Charges, Awaiting Trial For Sexual Abuse

Posted on November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 by Rick Watts

Twenty-one year old, Alex Trent VanderVeer, of Knoxville, Iowa, was sentenced to 136 months in prison on October 20, 2017 for enticement and attempted enticement of a minor to engage in illicit sexual activities.

VanderVeer will serve 30 years of supervised release following imprisonment and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund. VanderVeer pled guilty to the charges on June 21, 2017. As part of his plea, VanderVeer admitted that approximately between February 20, and through approximately February 23, 2017, he used a facility of interstate commerce, namely the internet and internet-based services, to violate the federal statute. VanderVeer further admitted that he knowingly used the facility of interstate commerce with the intent to persuade or entice a 14-year-old female to engage in illegal sexual activity, namely sexual intercourse with an adult more than four years older. VanderVeer is awaiting trial in Jasper County on charges of sexual abuse of a 13-year-old minor.

This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Office of the Inspector General, Marion County Attorney’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Jasper County Attorney’s Office, Newton Police Department, and Mid Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force.

This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa as part of the U.S. Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Childhood” initiative, which was started in 2006 as a nation-wide effort to combine law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, community action, and public awareness in order to reduce the incidence of sexual exploitation of children.

Any persons having knowledge of a child being sexually abused are encouraged to call the 24-hour Iowa Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-284-7821. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) also operates a Cyber Tip line at www.cybertipline.com that allows parents and children to report child pornography and other incidents of sexual exploitation of children by submitting an online form.

NCMEC also maintains a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST, and a website at www.missingkids.com. Complaints received by NCMEC that indicate a violation of federal law are referred to the law enforcement for appropriate action.

First Responders in Iowa Receiving Checks From Dakota Access Pipeline

Posted on October 20, 2017October 20, 2017 by Rick Watts

The company that built the Dakota Access oil pipeline that runs diagonally across Iowa, from the northwest to the southeast is making donations to emergency responders in every county the pipeline crosses in Iowa and three other states.

Mike Futch, vice president of Energy Transfer Partners, explains the motive.

“In recognition of our dedication and our commitment to operate our pipelines in a very safe and regulatory-compliant and reliable manner, one of the things that’s very important to a system like that is a very close working relationship with first responders and emergency responders,” said Futch.

The pipeline crosses 18 counties in total in Iowa and also carves a path across Illinois and North and South Dakota. The news conference was held in South Dakota and Futch says they want to be good corporate partners with every county the pipeline touches.

In Iowa, the total donation is $360,000 to units in 18 counties. The total donation in the four states adds up to one-million dollars as the pipeline covers 50 counties in all.

The Dakota Access Pipeline crosses through Jasper, Mahaska, Wapello, Keokuk, Jefferson, Van Buren and Lee counties in Southeast Iowa. Each will receive a check for $20,000.

Jamey Robinson, EMA/911 Administrator in Mahaska County, said his office has identified potential areas for projects. Potential projects include active shooter equipment and simulation, rehabilitation equipment during extreme hot or cold, search and rescue equipment, and lastly, equipment to safely remove debris from infrastructure, such as saw assets.

Chuck Fry, vice president for liquid pipelines at Energy Transfer, says the pipeline passing through Iowa is now fully assembled and carrying petroleum.

“Operationally, it can run at full capacity but it’s not fully subscribed by shippers yet,” Fry says.

The company is also giving the state of North Dakota 15-million dollars for protest-related expenses.

Jasper County Sheriff’s Needing Public’s Help

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Rick Watts

WANTED:

ALEX MICHEAL SPANGENBURG, 24 years old

This subject has multiple warrants for his arrest, including: HOMICIDE BY VEHICLE- OPERATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE, BURGLARY 1ST DEGREE, ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY INJURY OR MENTAL ILLNESSIf you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 641-792-5912.

Note: Harboring or aiding Mr. Spangenburg can lead to criminal charges.

As a reminder, a criminal charge is merely an accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Arrest Made in March Homicide

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Rick Watts

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest on July 13 regarding the homicide of Jose Luis C. Ramirez Berber on March 6, 2017. Ramirez Berber was discovered deceased inside his residence. This arrest is a result of a joint investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Charles City Police Department, Floyd County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.

Randy Louis Linderman, 52, from Charles City, Iowa has been charged with Murder in the First Degree. Linderman was taken into custody in Charles City. Linderman was transported and is being held in the Jasper County Jail in Newton, Iowa.

On March 8, 2017, the Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner located in Ankeny, Iowa conducted an autopsy on Ramirez Berber. The autopsy results determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.

Man Assaults Jasper County Deputies

Posted on July 11, 2017 by Rick Watts

A man was arrested in the 5700 block of Highway-117 south of Colfax by Jasper County Sheriffs after assaulting two deputy sheriffs.

The incident occurred just before midnight on Saturday, July 8. Chad Allan Emary, age 35, from Des Moines, allegedly obstructed Sheriff Deputy Jason Cunningham and assaulted Sheriff Deputy Marc Gonzalez. Through Emary’s assault he had caused injury to Deputy Gonzalez. Emary was also charged with providing false identification and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Emary remains in custody to this date.

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