(Radio Iowa) – Woodbury County authorities are asking Hornick and Holly Springs residents to be on the lookout for a man who injured a policeman early this (Monday) morning. At at about 1:30 a.m., a South Sioux City police officer approached two men and the pair jumped in a car and ran over the officer’s leg as they sped away. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan says a high-speed chase through Sioux City eventually ended when the car crashed at an intersection of Old Highway 141 that’s west of Holly Springs and north of Hornick.

A passenger in the vehicle was arrested, but the sheriff says the driver ran and got away. “We just want to let the residents in this area know that we’re still searching for the suspect and if they see anything…just call right away and let us know,” the sheriff says.

Sheehen says the suspect wore black pants, a grey zip-up hoodie, and a black ball cap.  “There was a gun found in the vehicle. Unknown if he’s armed or not,” Sheehen says. The sheriff says residents should not attempt a citizen’s arrest, but should contact the sheriff’s office if they see the suspect.

(Des Moines) – A man and woman from Des Moines face charges after they allegedly tied their 16-year-old son with special needs was zip-tied to a chair. Court documents detail abuses the boy suffered. KCCI-TV in Des Moines reports Jennifer Ryan, and her husband 47-year-old Richard Joe Ryan, are charged with one count of first-degree kidnapping. They were booked into the Polk County Jail Monday morning and are awaiting an initial court appearance.

Court documents obtained by KCCI say the incident happened Feb. 22nd. According to police, 48-year-old Jennifer Marie Ryan brought her 16-year-old son to work with her at Smith Automotive in Pleasant Hill. She then zip-tied the boy to a chair by his left ankle and pants belt loop in a chair adjacent to her desk.

Court documents show Pleasant Hill Police were contacted and the boy was removed by Iowa Department of Human Services officials and transported to Blank Children’s Hospital. The boy, identified as J.R. in court documents, was examined there and diagnosed with severe malnutrition, weighing only 78 pounds when he was admitted.

In the documents, it was said “Further investigation found that J.R. was routinely confined to his bedroom for several months and on occasion restrained to his bed frame by zip ties. He was not allowed to leave his room or use the restroom at night without permission or without escort by other family members. An alarm was placed on his door to alert his family if he attempted to leave to use the restroom. Permission to use the restroom was often denied necessitating him to urinate out his bedroom window or to wet the bed. As punishment for wetting the bed his mattress and blankets would be removed and he would be required to sleep on the floor.”

The boy was not permitted to eat breakfast, according to arrest warrants. He usually ate lunch or dinner, which consisted of leftovers from the day before. Court documents also stated “J.R. would sneak food when he could and hide it in his bedroom. If the food was discovered, he was punished by being deprived a meal. He also endured physical abuse often being struck in the face or on the head with a wooden back scratcher or repeatedly thrown to the floor.” .

According to police, the boy had several non-healing abrasions and bruises from the abuse and bone deformities to one of his feet, believed to have been caused by wearing shoes that were too small for extended periods of time.

“After the COVID pandemic, J.R. was brought to work on days when J.R.’s father also had to work. While at work with Jennifer, J.R. was zip-tied to the chair for the duration of Jennifer’s 8-hour work schedule, deprived of water and not allowed to use the restroom,” court documents show.

WASHINGTON—During National Parks Week, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are pushing for support for the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA)—an affiliate of the National Park Service (NPS)—to ensure the organization can continue to preserve and tell the history of Iowa and American agriculture and its global significance.

“Iowa’s agriculture heritage is an instrumental part of our state and nation’s history and our prominence on the world stage. At the start of National Parks Week, I’m glad to team up with Senator Grassley to ensure the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area can continue to share the story of agriculture and highlight the rural communities that are and will continue to be the backbone of our country,” said Senator Ernst. “Iowa has a rich history of agriculture and rural traditions. Our National Heritage Area provides educational opportunities to folks in Iowa and tourists from around the country,” Grassley said. “Silos and Smokestacks is a great resource so that the next generation can learn about Iowa history.”

Background:

The Protecting the Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area Act reauthorizes SSNHA through 2031. The Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area preserves and tells the story of American agriculture and its global significance through partnerships and activities that celebrate the land, people, and communities of the area. It is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas in the nation and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service (NPS).

(Press Release from Sen. Ernst’s office)

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The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office reports six arrests from the past week. On April 11th, 23-year-old Kaylee Renae Roach, of Atlantic, was taken into custody following a traffic stop on Highway F58 near the 1900 block.   Upon further investigation, it was determined that Roach’s driving privileges had been suspended through the State of Iowa.  She was taken into custody without incident, and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, no proof of insurance, and operating a non-registered vehicle.  She was held until she was released the following morning on her own recognizance.  26-year-old Dakota Lynn Blum, of Lake View, was also arrested April 11th. She was taken into custody following a traffic stop along Highway 59.  Blum, who had a statewide warrant for her arrest out of Sac County, was taken into custody without incident, and later transferred to Sac County for appearance on her outstanding warrant.

On April 12th, Deputies in Shelby County arrested 22-year-old Emmanuel Alexis Mejia, of Denison, following a traffic stop along the 600 block of Highway 59, for a traffic violation.   Upon further investigation, it was determined that Mejia driving privileges were suspended through the State of Iowa.  The passenger in the vehicle, a juvenile male was transferred to the Sheriff’s Office where he was released to a family member without incident.

On Sunday, Deputies arrested 46-year-old Karen Diane Barker, of North Wilkesboro, NC, following a traffic stop on Highway 191 in Shelby County.   Upon further investigation, Barker was charged with possession of controlled substance (pharmaceutical) and possession of drug paraphernalia.  She was transported to the jail without incident and released a short time later after posting the $1300 surety bond.

On April 9th, the Iowa State Patrol arrested 37-year-old Randy Glen Newman, of Council Bluffs, following a traffic stop for a speeding violation along Highway 59, in Shelby County. When it was determined Newman’s driving privileges had been barred in the State of Iowa for being a habitual offender, he was transported to the Shelby County jail without incident and charged with driving while barred, habitual offender and held under $2000 cash or surety bond, which was posted a short time later that evening.

And, on April 8th, authorities in Shelby County were dispatched to a residence in Shelby, for a reported disturbance between a man and a woman.  Upon further investigation, 50-year-old Chad Ian Dills was arrested for domestic abuse assault. He was transported to the Shelby County Jail without incident and released on his own recognizance the next day, after appearing before the magistrate.

Two people were arrested on separate drug and other charges in Creston, last Friday, According to Creston Police, 44-year-old Ian Stover, of Creston, was arrested Friday evening on a Union County warrant for Failure to serve his jail sentence on an original charge of Violation of a No Contact Order. Stover was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance/2nd offense, and Possession of Paraphernalia. He was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,300 bond, and until the balance of his original sentence is served.

Friday night, 28-year-old Casey Welcher, of Afton, was arrested in Creston for Possession of a Concealed Weapon, Assault on a Peace Office (without injury), Interference with Official Acts, and Possession of Paraphernalia. His bond was set at $3,600.

Friday afternoon, 21-year-old Garrett Abel, of Afton, was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center, for Criminal Mischief in the 5th Degree. She was cited and released from custody on a Summons to Appear. And, Saturday afternoon, 19-year-old Carter Menefee, of Greenfield, was arrested in Creston for Public Intoxication. He was later released on $300 bond.

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Two men from Pottawattamie County were arrested at around 1:23-a.m. today (Monday), in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say 25-year-old Robert Michael Guzman, Jr., of Carter Lake, and 24-year-old Jacob Lee Mattox, of Council Bluffs, were taken into custody for possession of marijuana. They were transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $1,000 cash-only bond, each.

(Radio Iowa) – A court challenge is expected quickly to what opponents are calling an “ag gag” law that won final Iowa legislative approval this week. Adam Mason, state policy director for Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, says the bill which criminalizes certain types of trespassing on agricultural properties is waiting on Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature. Mason says if she signs it into law, there will be lawsuits.

“Because this one specifically addresses photo and video evidence, we assume it to be unconstitutional and that was one of our arguments in fighting them,” Mason says. “We do anticipate a court challenge. The question is, who that will be coming from.” While I-C-C-I is considering its next step, Mason says he’s heard animal rights activist Matthew Johnson, who was arrested on trespassing charges at an Iowa pork operation, will likely be taking the issue to court. Mason says his group has multiple worries about the bill.

“Folks who have concerns, either about environmental violations at factory farms,” Mason says. “Or because this law is pretty broad, it could prevent workers inside packing plants or other food processing facilities from documenting workplace violations.” Mason fears this type of measure could have far-reaching impacts and it will take time for the various courts to unravel all of these surrounding issues.

“If folks see something wrong, they should be able to say something but this bill tries to turn that into a crime,” Mason says. “That’s a huge concern for us and it’s going to prevent folks from speaking out when they see either environmental violations or workplace violations.”

Under the bill, knowingly entering private property without the owner’s consent and taking soil and water samples or samples of an animal’s bodily fluids would become an aggravated misdemeanor on the first offense. It carries a maximum sentence of up to two years in prison. A second offense would be a Class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison.