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Man arrested after alleged threat to shoot people at West Burlington store

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A threat at a WalMart around nine o’clock this morning in West Burlington led to a manhunt put some schools on alert.

Witnesses say a man entered the rear of the store and threatened to shoot people, but no shots were fired. The store was evacuated immediately as police searched for the suspect. By 10:30 a.m. customers and staff were allowed back into the store as the search for the suspect shifted to the surrounding area.

West Burlington Schools, near to the store held children inside the building and went on a heightened awareness status. Around 12:21 this afternoon West Burlington Police announced they have a suspect in custody.

The name of the suspect has not been released.

(By Steve Putney, KBUR, Burlington)

 

Missing girl sought by South Carolina police last seen in Iowa

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William and Jessica Ray with Dakota.

Police in South Carolina, searching for a two-year-old child, say the girl was last seen with her parents in Iowa.

Camden, South Carolina Police say they’re concerned for Dakota Ray’s well being because her parents are believed to be “heavy methamphetamine users.”

The van William and Jessica Ray may be in.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the girl and her parents — William and Jessica Ray — were captured in surveillance images this past Monday (May 14) at an unspecified hospital in Iowa.

Police later received word they may now be in Minnesota.

The girl and her parents are traveling in a 1996 gold Ford Aerostar van and may be frequently changing the license plate.

Camden Police say they may also be sleeping in the van and possibly begging or asking strangers for money.

 

Cedar Falls man killed while trying to adopt child in Philippines

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A northeast Iowa man staying in the Philippines to adopt a child is the victim in a deadly shooting.

Panay News reported that 57-year-old Erik Hendrickson of Cedar Falls was shot and killed Tuesday night in a bar. A police report says Hendrickson got into an argument with a man who followed him to a different table and shot him. A 40-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with murder and violating a gun law.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Hendrickson’s family complete the adoption process, pay legal frees, funeral expenses and bring the boy back to the U.S.

(By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Waterloo)

 

National Guard helps in search for missing La Porte City teenager

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An Iowa National Guard Chinook helicopter helps in the search for Jake Wilson.

The Iowa National Guard helped Wednesday in the search for Jake Wilson, the autistic 16-year-old from La Porte City who’s been missing now since April 7th.

La Porte City Police Chief Chris Brecher says the guard provided the services of a military helicopter during a training mission. According to Brecher, the Chinook hovered over Wolf Creek to create down pressure in hopes the disturbance would free up an object trapped under the water. During the operation, two teams in kayaks made their way down the creek to check on any immediate results.

Authorities didn’t give any advance notice of the Iowa National Guard exercise, due to safety concerns. Details of the operation were made public in a press release Wednesday evening. Officials also had a large excavator in the water Wednesday, removing large debris from Wolf Creek as part of the search.

(By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Waterloo)

 

Man shot by Davenport police officer after chase in critical condition

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A man was badly wounded after being shot by a Davenport police officer following a chase.

The Scott County Sheriff says Davenport police responded to a hit-and-run Wednesday where a vehicle hit two cars. A patrol car tried to stop the suspect vehicle, but it drove through a yard, hitting a building and a third car.

Investigators say officers tried to apprehend the driver at an intersection when the incident escalated and an officer fired two shots. The man was taken to a local hospital, then to University Hospitals in Iowa City where he’s in critical condition.

No name was released. The officer is on administrative leave pending the investigation of the shooting.

 

Central Iowa women say human trafficking arrest shows need for continued focus

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Two women who formed a group in central Iowa to fight human trafficking say an arrest for the crime at an Altoona truck stop shows the importance of remaining alert for the crime.

Linda Pierce is the co-founder of “Newton Says No to Human Trafficking” and says she has witnessed what she thinks was human trafficking along the interstate. “This girl who was wearing high-heeled boots, a miniskirt, a white fluffy coat… and she was running as fast as she could down the interstate. I just thought that she was a runaway — but now I realize she was probably running from her pimp or her john,” Pierce says.

Pierce says she saw another potential case at a local store and now regrets she didn’t do more. The other co-founder of the group, Lynn Keller, says the effort to publicize human trafficking and the fact that it does happen in Iowa have increased awareness.

“But I still think that people need to become more aware and also be aware of the possibility that it could happen anywhere, any time,” Keller says. The women say the goal of “Newton Says No to Human Trafficking is to let people know what to look for and what to do if you see a situation that looks like human trafficking. Keller if something doesn’t look right, you should call 911 and report it. “The absence of normal is kind of the key to remember when thinking about human trafficking and possibly seeing it happen,” according toe Keller.

You can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. The hotline says Iowa saw 74 reported human trafficking cases last year. That number has grown every year since 2012. Experts say the growth is partly due to increased awareness for the signs of trafficking, but also because it’s easier than ever for traffickers and their clients thanks to the internet. Again. A Des Moines man faces human trafficking and other charges in the Altoona truck stop case.

(By Randy Van, KCOB, Newton)

 

Des Moines man arrested at truck stop and charged with human trafficking

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Altoona Police have charged a man with human trafficking.

Thirty-two-year-old Michael Nelson of Des Moines was arrested this week after police say he tried to force a woman into prostitution at an Altoona truck stop.

When the woman tried to get away from Nelson, he allegedly fire a gun in the air. The two approached someone at the truck stop to solicit sex, and that person called police. In addition to human trafficking, Nelson is charged with OWI and various gun violations.

 

Body found in shed at Fort Dodge home

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Fort Dodge police are investigating what they’re calling an unattended death.

Authorities were notified Tuesday evening of the discovery of the body of an individual in a shed at a residence in the 1200 block of First Avenue North after checking on a suspicious odor. The Webster County Medical Examiner responded to the scene. The body will be transported to the State Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The name of the subject and manner of death are unknown.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Fort Dodge Police Department or Webster County Crime Stoppers.

(By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City)

 

Franklin County Sheriff dies following illness

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The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office says Sheriff Linn Larson has died.

The Sheriff’s Office announced in a news release that Larson died Tuesday following an illness, he was 59.

Larson started his career in April of 1978 as a police officer in Belmond. He moved through the ranks and became police chief in 1983. Larson joined the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department in August of 2006 and was promoted to Chief Deputy in 2008. Larson was elected Sheriff in 2016. Larson served as the commander of the North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force Special Operations Group for nearly six years.

The funeral arrangments have been set. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Church of the Living Word in Hampton, and services will be 1 p.m. Friday at the church.

(By Mark Ferie, KLMJ, Hampton)

(This story was updated at 2:25 to include the funeral arrangements)

 

Riverside parents going to trial following toddler’s death

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Jury selection started today in southeast Iowa’s Washington County for the trial of the parents of a toddler who died in November of 2016.

Autopsy results showed 17-month old Avery McCoy, found unresponsive in her crib, died of malnutrition and neglect. She weighed just 11 pounds at the time of her death. The girl’s parents, Ambrashia Chrzan and Anthony McCoy of Riverside, are charged with child endangerment resulting in death.

They could each face up to 50 years in prison if they’re convicted of those charges.