Violent Crime

Spencer to celebrate homecoming next week (10/01/08)
Spencer students, residents and volunteers alike are expected to be "wild with pride" during this year's homecoming celebrations, which officially begin on Monday and last through next Saturday. School-sponsored activities during the 2008 homecoming week include theme days in each of the school buildings, sports activities, the annual homecoming coronation at 7:30 p.m. on Monday in the Spencer High School (SHS) fieldhouse, and next Friday's 7:30 p.m. football game against MOC-Floyd Valley...

Spencer man receives federal conviction (10/01/08)
A January 9 court date has been set for a 25-year-old Spencer man convicted of distributing methamphetamine. Eder Noe Sosa-Jimenez was convicted Wednesday, Sept. 24, of: The verdict was returned after about seven hours of jury deliberations according to a statement released Tuesday by U.S. Attorney Matt Dummermuth...

Mallard man gets 22-year prison sentence (10/01/08)
A 41-year-old Mallard man was sentenced to 22 years in prison for distributing more than 150 grams of methamphetamine in Palo Alto County and Clay County. Kenneth Putensen received the prison term after an April 3 guilty plea to one count of having been previously convicted of two felony drug offenses and then conspiring to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine...

Speeding stop leads to drug arrest (09/29/08)
A speeding stop Wednesday resulted in the arrest of two teenage men from Correctionville and Quimby. The Clay County K-9 Deputy stopped a vehicle for speeding in the 3000 block of Hwy 18., and while attempting to stop the vehicle, the passenger, Kurt Bahrke, 19 Correctionville, threw a bag of what appeared to be marijuana from the vehicle. Bahrke was arrested after the marijuana was retrieved from the roadside...

Pharmacist faces drug charges (09/24/08)
An Everly man is awaiting a court date after investigators suspect he was trying to obtain a prescribed medication illegally. Police took David Jack Easton into custody on Thursday and three counts of obtaining a prescription drug by fraud were filed against the 55-year-old at the Clay County Courthouse on Friday...

Adair enters guilty plea for voluntary manslaughter (09/17/08)
Plea agreements have been reached for two of three men accused of murder in an April bar fight outside of Zippers in Milford. Scott Thomas Adair, 29, of Crossett, Ark. entered a guilty plea to voluntary manslaughter on Monday. In his plea, Adair admits to delivering unjustified hits that took the life of Matthew Thomas Begtrup, 25, of Sioux Falls...

Drug distribution charges send three to jail (09/10/08)
Clay County Deputies made a series of arrests late last week with ties to drug distribution allegations in the area. Deputies located 48-year-old Ronald Gene Bunker of Romona, S.D., at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday in the 1200 block of 340th Street in Everly after they had prior knowledge of a warrant for Bunker's arrest out of South Dakota. He was transported to jail and was held to appear before the magistrate on a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance...

Police catch break in car theft probe (09/09/08)
Members of the Spencer Police Department said they were able to recover more than 50 items that were stolen from cars in late August and early September. Officers began following up on information regarding several car burglaries in the Spencer area late last week. Investigators used the information to issue warrants for 18-year-old Jeff Martin, Jr. of Tulsa, Okla...

Intruder report leads to arrest (09/09/08)
The employee at a local business began his work day with a call to police. At about 5:57 a.m. Thursday, officers with the Spencer Police Department responded to a burglary in progress in the 100 block of W. Eighth St. An adult male fled the business as an employee arrived to open the store...

Hartley man faces drug distribution charge (09/06/08)
Three northwest Iowans were arrested on drug-related charges following a traffic stop by Spencer Police Department at 10:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28. Police on Wednesday said they charged 24-year-old David Engelkes, of Hartley, with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver marijuana in the 10 block of North Grand Avenue...

Illinois residents face drug charges (09/04/08)
Two Illinois residents were placed in the Clay County jail on narcotics charges Sunday morning following a traffic stop by the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Approximately 11:55 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, the Clay County Sheriff's Office made a traffic stop on an Illinois vehicle travelling 72 miles per hour in a 55 zone. Upon making contact with the driver, Chance Allan Naber, 19, of McHenry, Ill., the deputy noticed a container with drug paraphernalia under the rear of the driver's seat...

Prather enters 'not guilty' pleas (09/03/08)
A Spencer man has entered not guilty pleas to charges associated with a fatal motorcycle crash earlier this summer. James Owen Prather was scheduled for a court appearance Tuesday but instead entered his not guilty pleas in writing. The 57-year-old Spencer man faces charges of vehicular homicide, serious injury by a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death...

Cocaine trafficking suspected in Spencer (08/29/08)
Three home searches revealed an apparent cocaine distribution ring in and around Spencer, according to a statement from the Spencer Police Department. Members of the Spencer Police Department conducted the searches on Aug. 22. The search at 3610 290th Avenue in rural Dickens led to the arrest of 51-year-old Don Mobley. ...

Payne escapes prison time in conviction (08/27/08)
Despite an emotional appeal from the victim and her mother in court Monday, Kyle Dean Payne will serve no prison sentence for his conviction on three crimes related to an incident in which he partially stripped an unconscious fellow Buena Vista University student, photographed himself fondling her body, and later installed the images and video on his computer...

Democrats rally local troops on eve of national convention (08/26/08)
Clay County Democrats gathered at the Oneota Park shelter house Sunday evening for their annual fundraising steak fry. The meeting, coming just a day after Barack Obama named Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate via a much hyped text message to supporters, had County chairman Bob Whittenburg's stressing organization to his fellow Democrats...

Extra enforcement planned for Labor Day (08/22/08)
Area law enforcement agencies are once again stepping up patrols in advance of the Labor Day holiday weekend. Chief Deputy Duane Bates of the Clay County Sheriff's Office is coordinating the year's fifth and final wave of sTEP, the special traffic enforcement program. The enforcement effort is being held in conjunction with "Over the Limit. Under Arrest," a national drunk driving awareness campaign...

Arraignment set in vehicular homicide case (08/22/08)
A Spencer man will have a chance to respond to amended charges for his possible role in a traffic fatality earlier this summer. James Owen Prather faces a charges of vehicular homicide, serious injury by vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The vehicular homicide charge is a Class B felony and carries a penalty no more than 25 years in prison...

Agriprocessors supervisor faces additional charge (08/20/08)
DES MOINES -- A supervisor arrested after a massive immigration raid at the Agriprocessors plant in Postville is expected to plead guilty on Wednesday to charges he knowingly hired illegal immigrants, according to court filings. Juan Carlos Guerrero-Espinoza is expected to plead guilty to charges he conspired to hire illegal immigrants and aided and abetted the hiring of illegal immigrants...

Traffic stop leads to drug bust (08/20/08)
Clay County deputies and members of the Spencer Police Department made a late-night traffic stop over the weekend and their findings led to drug distribution charges. A deputy stopped a vehicle just after midnight Saturday in the 10 block of West First Street in Spencer and determined that all three occupants had open containers of alcohol in the vehicle...

Crash leads to vehicular homicide charge (08/07/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Assistant Clay County Attorney Chuck Borth said a Class B felony charge of vehicular homicide will be filed against a Spencer man involved in a fatal crash. The Spencer Police Department responded to a hit-and-run crash at 7:16 p.m. Monday involving a sports utility vehicle, which rear-ended a motorcycle as both vehicles were traveling east on U.S. Highway 18 near the area of Del's Garden Center...

Spencer man faces charges in hit-and-run (08/06/08)
The Spencer Police Department responded to a hit and run crash at 7:16 p.m. on Monday involving a sports utility vehicle and a motorcycle. Witnesses told responding law enforcement officers a dark-colored SUV rear-ended a motorcycle as both vehicles were traveling east on Highway 18...

Traffic stop leads to meth charge (08/05/08)
A Denison man faces drug-related charges after deputies say they found materials related to methamphetamine as part of a traffic stop. A patrolling deputy pulled 33-year-old Jeremy Dave Frank over for speeding at 2:40 a.m. Saturday in the 4600 block of Highway 71...

City enters into first vicious dog ordinance discussion (07/22/08)
First filing on changes to the "Vicious Animals Ordinance" was unanimously approved at Monday night's Spencer City Council meeting, but not before an extended discussion clarifying just how the changes would be enforced and what animals would be directly impacted...

Arson fire injures Primghar man (07/18/08)
Authorities say a resident of a group home for adults near Primghar was burned in an arson fire. The Primghar Fire Department was called out at 12:23 a.m. Wednesday to the Pride Group Home, which is at 6059 390th Street and east of Primghar. The fire began in the center part of a storage building. It is believed a liquid accelerant was used to start the fire...

Advocates push for revamped drug penalties in Iowa (07/16/08)
DES MOINES (AP) -- Some Iowa lawmakers and legal advocates say state drug laws that include methamphetamine and crack cocaine penalties need to be revamped. A legislative study committee agreed Wednesday to take steps that could lead to a major revision to the state's drug laws. Some say the laws are unfair or racially biased...

Scam e-mails seek donations to help Chinese earthquake victims (07/15/08)
Scam E-Mails Seek Donations to Help Chinese Earthquake Victims The FBI is asking people to beware of e-mails claiming to be raising money to help victims of the recent earthquake in China. Tragic incidents such as 9/11, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Minnesota Bridge collapse, the Virginia Tech shootings and the victims of the horrific tornados have all prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions for a charitable organization and/or a good cause. ...

Spencer woman charged in break-in (07/10/08)
Clay County Sheriff's deputies charged a Spencer woman with burglary and criminal mischief following a disturbance call in the early morning hours of Wednesday. When a deputy arrived, he spoke with Melissa Loontjer at a residence in the 4400 block of 200th Avenue in Clay County. She told the deputy the front windshield and rear windows of her vehicle had been broken out by 26-year-old Bridget Gilmore, who left the residence and was possibly headed to Spencer...

Council moves ahead with sewer surcharge (07/09/08)
Calling it, "the fairest way to do this," City Manager Bob Fagen, watched as Spencer's seven city councilman approved the second filing of an amendment which will create a proposed $5 Combined Sewer Initiative Surcharge to the city of Spencer wastewater customers...

Traffic stop leads to drug charges (06/24/08)
A traffic stop Saturday by a Clay County deputy landed three Spencer residents in the Clay County jail. Deputies pulled over a vehicle driven by 33-year-old Travis Stoyke of Spencer at approximately 3:36 a.m. for a minor traffic violation. Upon investigation, it was found that the front female passenger, 24-year-old Amanda (Schaunaman) Schley of Spencer, was wanted on two Clay County arrest warrants for fifth-degree theft and had a $900 cash only bond. ...

Four arrests made in local vandalism (06/05/08)
Four arrests have been made at the conclusion of a joint investigation by the Spencer and Sioux Rapids police departments, following up on reports of several vandalism incidents where vehicle tires and windows were damaged between May 7-15. A subsequent investigation led to criminal mischief first degree charges - a class C felony -- being filed against four indivduals who are believed responsible for damaging over $13,000 in property in Spencer...

Supervisors race features six candidates (05/31/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Republicans have a choice on the ballot as the party tries to find two nominees for a pair of available seats on the Clay County Board of Supervisors. Incumbent Del Brockshus of Spencer is near the end of his fourth term. He has filed to run again...

Meth sales suspected in Memorial Day bust (05/28/08)
A Louisiana man was placed in the Clay County Jail on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine. Deputies originally stopped 28-year-old Robert Poulsen of St. Bernard, La., on a traffic violation at about 2:32 a.m. Monday in the 2900 block of Highway 71. As the deputies approached the car, he observed "what looked to be drug paraphernalia sitting in the ash tray of the vehicle," according to a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's Deputy Jesse Rustad...

Judge denies bond reduction in Milford murder case (05/28/08)
Judge Patrick Carr has decided to keep the bail set at $750,000 each for three men accused of a Milford murder earlier this spring. John Allen Swan, 30, of Crossett, Ark.; Scott Thomas Adair, 29, of Crossett, Ark.; and Michael James Friedrichs, 29, of Forest City, appeared in court for a bail review hearing last Monday. Judge Carr's decision reached the Clerk of Court's office this week...

2008 Citizen's Police Academy draws to close (05/28/08)
Eleven people completed the 2008 version of the Spencer Citizen's Police Academy. The academy courses took place on Tuesday nights from March 18 until May 20. The topics included criminal law, search and seizure, 911, crime scenes, gathering of evidence, processing crime scenes, drug investigations and traffic enforcement...

First Congregational Church to donate playhouse (05/23/08)
Currently on the grounds of First Congregational Church of Spencer sits a log-cabin playhouse, located near the entrance to the sanctuary. At the conclusion of the 10:30 a.m. worship service on Sunday, May 25, the entire congregation will gather around the house for a prayer of dedication as the playhouse is destined to become a fixture in the backyard of the Clay county CAASA (Center Against Abuse and Sexual Assault) shelter...

Accused murderers request bond reduction (05/20/08)
Three men accused of a Milford murder this spring await a judges' decision on bond reduction after appearing before Dickinson County Court Monday morning. John Allen Swan, 30, of Crossett, Ark.; Scott Thomas Adair, 29, of Crossett, Ark.; and Michael James Friedrichs, 29, of Forest City are being held in the Dickinson County Jail on $750,000 bond...

Sirens 05-17-08 (05/17/08)
ARRESTS INCIDENTS...

Annual Health Fair set for Thursday (05/17/08)
The Annual Health Fair, sponsored by the Spencer Area Activity Center and the RSVP Volunteer Program, will be Thursday, May 22, starting at 9 a.m. at Gateway North Center. People of all ages are invited to participate. A new addition to this year's Health Fair is the opportunity for participants to attend several workshops, including the following:...

Raid in Postville: Authorities confirm largest work site enforcement ever (05/17/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff A total of 306 people who were detained at Agriprocessors Inc of Postville have now been arrested on criminal charges, federal prosecutors confirmed in a statement released Thursday. The 281 men and 25 women are part of a group of 389 people who were administratively arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday...

Castillo-Alvarez files appeal (05/16/08)
Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez wants the Iowa Supreme Court to take a fresh look at convictions stemming from his involvement in the death of an Estherville teenager 11 years ago. Judge Don Courtney found the former Estherville restaurant owner guilty of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony Jan. 25 at the Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg. The guilty verdict came after a trial that spanned parts of three days in September...

Ambassadors meet with PSY reps (05/07/08)
The Spencer Ambassadors met with Amy Simpson and other representatives of Positively Spencer Youth to learn about how the volunteer operated program is serving the needs of the young people in Spencer. The organization has partnered with the schools and other area organizations in the community to put on a series of informative and relevent seminars for teens and parents regarding the dangers on the internet and various types of substance abuse in today's teen culture, the group has also offered several fun activities for families and children to take part in, brought in a variety of positive speakers and worked with other groups such as After Prom and the Extreme Am to add more benefit to those served by each project. ...

Deputies press King for federal grant support (05/03/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Funding for the Iowa Great Lakes Task Force was a central point of conversation Friday as U.S. Rep. Steve King met with Clay County Sheriff Randy Krukow in Spencer. Krukow is concerned about cuts to the Byrne-JAG (Justice Assistance Grant) program. The grants were established in 2005 to allow states and local governments to support improvements to the criminal justice system...

Changes ahead for sex offender registray (04/30/08)
The Iowa Sex Offender Registry will take a step toward real-time public notification following the announcement of a federal grant earlier this month. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said the Iowa Department of Public Safety will receive a $269,450 technology-based grant from the Department of Justice through the Adam Walsh Act...

Castillo-Alvarez receives 50-year sentence (04/26/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff A quiet and, at times, seemingly disinterested Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez received a 50-year prison sentence Friday for his role in the disappearance and death of a Estherville teenager almost 11 years ago. Castillo-Alvarez was the last of 10 people charged in the June 1997 plot to end 15-year-old Gregory Sky Erickson's life over an unpaid drug debt and his possible role as a police informant...

Deputies make arrests in Hap Ketelsen thefts (04/26/08)
By Russ Mitchell Daily Reporter Staff Four area teenagers face theft-related charges after a break-in last weekend at the Hap Ketelsen Community Center in Everly. Deputies think the teenagers broke into the community center took cases of beer, a keg, wine and hard liquor from the building's inventory...

Divers help in weapons search (04/22/08)
Members of the Clay County Sheriff's Office received some specialized help with a year-old rural residential burglary investigation. The Arnolds Park/Okoboji Fire Department Dive Team was called at about 8:45 a.m. Sunday to Stolley's Gravel Pit in west Spencer. Lt. Jason Kirschbaum of the dive team said the exercise doubled as a training opportunity for the volunteers who form the unit...

Hearing date set in Castillo-Alvarez case (04/03/08)
District Court Judge Don Courtney has set the hearing date for a former Estherville restaurant owner who was convicted for his role in the disappearance and death of an area teenager. Juan Humberto Castillo-Alvarez's attorney, Mike Williams, filed a motion on March 7 asking Courtney to vacate guilty verdicts on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. Castillo-Alvarez wants a new trial...

Another mailbox incident draws attention (04/01/08)
Members of the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office are looking for the people responsible for a mailbox explosion Friday night. At about 7:34 p.m. Saturday, deputies were called to 25924 Walleye Drive -- near East Okoboji Beach -- regarding a mailbox that had been destroyed by a explosive device...

Mailbox case returned to Clay County (03/25/08)
Federal authorities are going to loosen their grip on a local "MacGyver bomb" case, according to Clay County Attorney Michael Houchins. Seventeen federal felony charges of destruction of letter boxes were originally filed on Saturday, March 8, after a group of teenagers were suspected of planting explosive devices in the mailboxes in and around Spencer. Seven state felony counts of destruction of letter boxes with an explosive device also were filed...