• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Armstrong’s mayor, police chief, city clerk, ex-clerk face felony charges

Armstrong’s mayor, police chief, city clerk, ex-clerk face felony charges

February 12, 2021 By Radio Iowa Contributor

Greg Buum

Three current officials and a former employee in the northwest Iowa city of Armstrong face serious charges after a routine audit sparked an investigation of the city’s finances.

Mayor Greg Buum, Police Chief Craig Merrill, City Clerk Tracie Lang and former City Clerk Connie Thackery face a series of felony and misdemeanor charges.

According to a news release from the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, one or more of the defendants are accused of ongoing criminal conduct, fraudulent practice, theft, misconduct while in office, tampering with records, assault and falsifying public documents.

Tracie Lang

The year’s long investigation by county and state officials uncovered alleged misappropriation of city funds and falsification of ledgers to hide embezzlement according to the news release, which also mentioned the “deployment of a TASER against a civilian in exchange for cash.”

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is prosecuting the cases at the request of local officials due to a potential conflict of interest. Authorities say one or more additional arrests are pending.

Connie Thackery

The state auditor’s office began an annual review of the city’s finances four years ago, but then-State Auditor Mary Mosiman said it soon became a special investigation. Her office eventually reported uncovering $100,000 in undeposited utility payments and improper spending.

Mosiman said at the time the city clerk’s records were a mess and it was impossible to determine if more money had been misappropriated.

(By Corey Harguth, KICD, Spencer?Photos courtesy of the DCI)

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

Man convicted of two Muscatine County murders dies in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

Drake’s DeVries named to Naismith watch list

State wrestling opens with limited attendance

Iowa’s Wieskamp is B1G Player of the Week

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC