Jefferson Police Report November 4

November 1, 2019

• An officer encountered a male at a retail store who had the strong odor of marijuana coming from his person. The officer made contact with the male and identified him as Michael Clement of Boone. The officer located suspected marijuana on Clement’s person. Criminal charges are pending on lab results.
• An officer responded to 108 E. Central St., #58, for a report of a verbal argument between Lauren Schulte and Trent Ray.
• Donna Dornath spoke with an officer about health issues involving a family member.
• Jennifer Happe spoke with an officer about ongoing issues she was having with her neighbor.
• An officer assisted the Dallas County Sheriff’s office with locating the owner of a vehicle that was broken down in Dallas County for several days.
• Craig Burbank reported a semi-tractor trailer running a stop sign at the intersection of Grimmell Road and W. Lincoln Way.
• Marcus Long spoke with an officer about a compromised Facebook account.
• Emily Chiafos reported receiving a forged check for Mark Mendenhall of Fort Dodge. This was in connection with an ongoing investigation of forgery.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 1100 block of Westwood Drive, Damon Zimple of Minneapolis, Minn., was arrested on a Greene County warrant for fifth-degree theft.

November 2, 2019

• On Friday, Nov. 1 at about 11:31 p.m., Grand Junction Fire and Rescue was dispatched to a residence in Grand Junction for a medical call. A Jefferson Police Officer overheard radio traffic between the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue ambulance and the Greene County Dispatch as they began traveling to the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson to transport a patient. The officer noticed the driver of the ambulance, who was also the individual completing the radio transmissions to dispatch, was slurring his speech. This male was later identified as Grand Junction Fire Chief Thomas Launderville. Because slurred speech is a sign of intoxication, the officer investigated further by meeting with the Grand Junction Fire and Rescue ambulance at the Greene County Medical Center at 1000 W. Lincoln Way in Jefferson. While at the Greene County Medical Center, the officer spoke with Launderville, the driver of the ambulance, and noticed signs of intoxication. The officer asked Launderville to complete field sobriety tests, which he refused. Launderville, 39, of Grand Junction was arrested for second-offense OWI at 12:12 a.m. Nov. 2. Launderville was convicted for a first-offense OWI in Greene County District Court that occurred Oct. 10, 2014. After being transported to the Greene County Law Enforcement Center, Launderville consented to a breath test which showed he had a BAC of .210 percent. Launderville was released to the Greene County Jail.
• An officer investigated the smell of marijuana in the 200 block of S. Chestnut Street but could not locate the source.
• As a result of a traffic stop at the intersection of S. Elm and West Madison streets, an officer conducted a probable-cause search of a vehicle that was driven by Nicholas Scar of Earlham after the officer detected the smell of marijuana. During the search, the officer located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. Criminal charges are pending on lab results.
• Shannon McHugh reported a dog running at large in the 700 block of W. South Street.
• Mike Hill spoke with an officer about an issue involving a deer at his residence outside the city limits. Hill was directed to inquire with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 900 block of N. Elm Street, Cassandra Eberly of Clarinda was issued a citation for excessive speed.
• An officer conducted a field sobriety test on a male at 777 Wild Rose Lane, which the male  subsequently passed.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 600 block of S. Olive Street, Maurice Johnson Wigley of Jefferson was issued a citation for fraudulent use of registration.
• Dawn Halligan reported two dogs running at large in the 400 block of N. Olive Street.
• Lauren Schulte spoke with an officer about a civil issue.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 300 block of W. Madison Street, Richard Kirschman of Ankeny was issued a citation for dark windows.
• Corinne Wetzel reported a vehicle on 220th Street that did not have its lights on.

November 3, 2019

• An officer located an unlocked business door at 600 E. Lincoln Way.
• As a result of a traffic stop at the intersection of 220th and N. Mulberry streets, Michael Eastman of Jefferson was issued a citation for driving while suspended.
• An officer responded to 108 W. State St. for an alarm. Everything was found to be okay.
• As a result of a traffic stop at the intersection of 220th and N. Mulberry streets, Regan Lamoureux of Jefferson was issued a citation for violation of financial liability coverage.
• An officer transported two dogs caught running at large in the 500 block of E. Clark Street to PAWS.
• An officer responded to the 800 block of W. Lincoln Way for a two-vehicle accident. Lorranie Lawrie was backing out of her garage in a 1994 Ford Taurus and struck a parked 2002 GMC pickup, owned by Duanne Forkner, that was parked in the alley. Damage to Lawrie’s vehicle was estimated at $300, and damage to Forkner’s vehicle was estimated at $500.
• An officer responded to S. Elm Street and Greenewood Road for cattle that were out and walking through the Jefferson Community Golf Course.
• An officer spoke with a male at the intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4 about walking on the highway.
• An officer assisted a semi-tractor trailer that was having mechanical issues at the intersection of Iowa Highway 4 and U.S. Highway 30.
• An anonymous individual dropped off a debit card found at the front counter of the Greene County Law Enforcement Center.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 700 block of N. Elm Street, Brooklyn Podell of Nevada was issued a citation for driving while suspended and excessive speed.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 600 block of E. Lincoln Way, Daniel Hagen of Jefferson was issued a citation for dark windows.
• As a result of a traffic stop in the 1100 block of N. Elm Street, Ryan Brown of Jefferson was issued a citation for operating a motor vehicle without registration.
• An officer responded to the 300 block of N. Olive Street for a report of a verbal argument between a male and a female.
• As a result of a traffic stop at the intersection of S. Maple and W. South streets, Cassidy Wilson of Scranton was issued a citation for failure to obey stop sign.
• Officers responded to 203 S. Grimmell Road for a verbal argument between a male and a female.
• An officer responded to 108 E. Central St., #58, for a report of a sexual assault. The officer is investigating.
• An officer responded to the Greene County Medical Center emergency room at 1000 W. Lincoln Way for a female who was being violent. Lauren Schulte, 25, of Jefferson was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct.
• On Oct. 10th, 2019, staff members at a retail store at 203 W. McKinley St. reported receiving a check from a male and a female that was forged and was on a closed bank account out of Altoona, Iowa. The owner of the stolen checks was also from Altoona. An officer opened an investigation and determined that this was not the only time these stolen checks were used. They were used at the following establishments between Sept. 29 and Oct. 11, 2019:

1. Circle K gas station in Boone – Amount of $22.74
2. Bomgaars in Jefferson – Amount $229.62
3. Fareway in Jefferson – Amount of $82.81
4. Ninja Sushi Steak House in Fort Dodge – Amount of $30
5. Moe’s Mart in Jefferson – Amount of $37.51
6. Sparky’s in Jefferson – Amount of $40
7. Casey’s General Store in Jefferson – Amount of $20
8. Kwik Trip in Fort Dodge – Amount of $102.92
9. The Repeat Boutique in Fort Dodge – Amount of $45.13
10. Check to Mark Mendenhall, cashed at Legacy Bank in Altoona – Amount of $400

During the lengthy investigation, it was determined the suspects were Mark Mendenhall, 47, of Fort Dodge and Heather Schulz, 32, of Algona. It was also determined the checks were stolen from a business at 1710 Second Ave. in Des Moines. As a result, arrest warrants have been requested for Mendenhall and Schulz on the following charges:

1. Forgery – D Felony (11 Counts)
2. Ongoing Criminal Conduct – B Felony
3. Theft – 3rd Degree – Aggravated Misdemeanor
4. Identity Theft – Aggravated Misdemeanor (11 Counts)

The Jefferson Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Kossuth County Sheriff’s officer, Algona Police Department, Fort Dodge Police Department, Boone Police Department, Altoona Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s office.

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.