Jefferson Police Report April 22

April 19, 2019

• Richie Burkhardt called and reported he had just eaten dinner at 113 N. Chestnut St. He advised the owner refused to provide him with silverware to eat his meal. Burkhardt ended the call as the officer was attempting to gain more information about the event.
• An officer went to 304 W. Reed St. and arrested Tyler James Smits, 26, of Jefferson on two outstanding JPD arrest warrants for first-degree harassment and violation of a protective order stemming from an incident reported April 10.
• An officer investigated a two-vehicle property damage accident at 106 W. Washington St. A 2018 Chevy Equinox, owned and operated by Dale Runkel of Jefferson, was attempting to pull into a parking spot. Runkel hit the gas instead of the brake and pushed a Handicap Parking Sign into a parked 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, owned by Bernice Schuttler of Rippey. Each vehicle had a reported $500 in damages. Runkel was issued a citation for failure to provide proof of financial liability.
• An officer assisted the Greene County EMS with a medical call near Elm and Reed streets.
• An officer assisted the Greene County EMS with a medical call in the 100 block of N. Maple Street.
• Dale Ganoe requested information from an officer about help for homeless subjects in Greene County. Ganoe had spoke to a young man at the A&W and had learned he was homeless. The officer went to speak to the male and could not locate him.
• A traffic stop in the 300 block of W. Clark Street resulted in Lynn Kenney of Gowrie being issued a citation for failure to provide proof of financial liability.
• An officer checked a parked vehicle on the side of the road on Iowa Highway 4 just south of 250th Street. The motorist did not need assistance.

April 20, 2019

• An officer issued a parking violation notice in the 200 block of S.Walnut Street for truck/trailer/RV parking.
• An officer located an open door at 701 W. Wall St. The officer secured the facility.
• An officer performed a traffic stop with a vehicle that had crossed over the fog line at 220th and Mulberry streets. The officer’s investigation led to the arrest of Matthew James Merical, 25, of Victor for second-offense OWI, driving while revoked, possession of a controlled substance-meth and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• An officer located two vehicles in the parking lot at 777 Wild Rose Lane with hoods up and jumper cables being used. The officer stopped and spoke to the subjects to see if they needed assistance. During the conversation with a male, the officer noticed behaviors consistent with narcotics usage. The male advised the officer he did have narcotics in his vehicle. The officer seized needles and white crystalline substances, along with green leafy substances, a smoking device, and other paraphernalia. The items will be lab tested and future charges are pending lab results.
• Workers for the Renosys Cooperation reported the theft of rolls of felt from the Jefferson Municipal Swimming Pool. The company is installing a pool liner and cover at the pool. Two large rolls of the felt were taken overnight. The officer’s investigation led to retrieving video of the event. He contacted the owner of the truck that had loaded the product and left the area at about midnight. The subject advised they believed the rolls of felt were placed curbside for Spring Clean Up. The items were placed near the east sidewalk of the pool and could have been mistaken as clean up items. The officer recovered the items in the 100 block of S. Wilson Avenue and workers picked it up.
• The Greene County Medical Center long-term nurses advised of a male at the facility carrying several weapons on his belt. The officer made contact with the male at the facility. He was there visiting a patient. The officer removed four knives from the subject. Two of the knives were carried on his belt and were concealed in a sheath. Th officer arrested Justin Jeffrey Baker, 32, of Jefferson for carrying weapons-knife over five inches.
• An officer checked the Jefferson Community Golf Course after dispatch received a 911 call from the area. The subject advised he accidentally pocket dialed 911. All was fine in the area.
• Pam Hamilton advised a black truck had loaded up her picnic table and drove away from her residence at 700 W. State St. The item was close to the curb when taken but was not meant to be a Clean Up Item. The officer located the truck and spoke to the driver, who assumed it was a Clean Up Item. The table was returned.
• A local parent had received information from his child about a juvenile advising his friends he had a handgun stored in his locker at the Greene County Middle School at 203 W. Harrison St. The officer contacted school officials, and the locker was searched. No weapon was located. The officer conducted an interview with the male student who had made the statement. The officer learned he had told his friends he had a gun to be “cool.” No crime had occurred, but the student may face consequences form the school.
• An officer issued a parking violation notice in the 400 block of N. Chestnut Street for parked across sidewalk.

April 21, 2019

• An officer was out of his vehicle and performing business door checks near 220th Street when he heard a passing vehicle driving on the rumble strips on 220th Street. The officer returned to his vehicle to investigate further. He caught up to the vehicle as it was turning into 777 Wild Rose Lane and parked. The officer had witnessed the vehicle leave its lane while he was attempting to catch up to it. The officer parked beside the vehicle and spoke to the driver. The officer’s investigation led the arrest of Gabriel Landa, 34, of Worthington, Minn., for first-offense OWI, failure to have a valid driver’s license and failure to provide proof of financial liability.
• Donna Helms reported she was driving on W. Lincoln Way and noticed a vehicle following a young female that was walking westbound. As Helms passed the female, she mouthed the words “Help” to her. The officer located the reported truck and spoke to the male driver. He advised his girlfriend had broken up with him and got out of his vehicle and began walking. He advised he followed close behind her, trying to speak to her and work out the issue. The officer located the female and spoke to her. Her version of the event matched the male’s. Nothing criminal had occurred.
• Dan Woodley caught a stray dog in the 800 block of W. State Street. The officer placed the animal in the Animal Holding Facility.
• Jan Hardman advised of a vehicle driving past her residence at 910 W. Harrison St. with a known female yelling obscenities at her husband. The officer is attempting to locate the female and speak to her about the unwanted contact.

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