DES MOINES, Iowa — The Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Major Crimes Unit said Friday afternoon, they are continuing to investigate an officer-involved shooting that took place late Thursday night, in Stuart. Authorities say once the investigation is complete, the DCI will provide the Adair County Attorney’s Office with all reports, evidence, and body camera video collected as part of this investigation. This process may take several weeks to complete.

Authorities investigate the scene after multiple law enforcement officers were shot Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019 in Stuart, Iowa. A man opened fire on sheriff’s deputies serving a warrant at a central Iowa apartment complex overnight, wounding two of them and setting off a gunbattle in which he, too, was wounded, authorities said Friday. (Zach Boyden-Holmes/The Des Moines Register via AP)

At this time, the DCI is releasing the following information concerning the shooting investigation:

On October 17, 2019, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Guthrie County Deputy Kent Gries, Guthrie County Deputy Steven Henry, Guthrie County Deputy Jim Mink, and Stuart Police Officer Tyler DeFrancisco attempted to serve an arrest warrant on 52-year old Randall Comly at 615 SW 7th Street, Apartment #1, in Stuart. The law enforcement officers were attempting to arrest Comly on outstanding felony warrants.

The officers knocked on the apartment door, where they were met by an adult male, not Randall Comly. The officers entered the apartment, and while searching for Comly, the officers were met with gunfire. The officers returned fire. In the exchange of gunfire two deputies sustained non-life threatening gunshot wounds and a third deputy sustained a gunpowder burn. Comly sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound. All those injured were transported to Des Moines hospitals. Also inside the apartment at the time of the shooting were two adult females, neither of which was injured.

More than 50 police officers, deputies, and troopers responded to the report of shots fired. Arriving officers were able to secure the area, evacuate neighbors, negotiate a peaceful ending to the incident, and take Comly into custody. He is currently is in law enforcement custody at a Des Moines Hospital on outstanding warrants. No criminal charges have been filed related to this shooting.

Deputy Kent Gries is a 13-year veteran of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Steven Henry is a seven-year veteran of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Jim Mink is a five-year veteran of the Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office. Officer Tyler DeFrancisco has one year of service with the Stuart Police Department.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In the weeks after an August groundbreaking ceremony for a $136 million federal courthouse, an unusual building has slowly arisen in the heart of downtown Des Moines. The two-story white building with wood siding and a gable roof would fit in well in the suburbs but at this spot, along the Des Moines River and facing the three-story elegant City Hall, it’s an oddity. Even a city spokesman expressed puzzlement at the house going up downtown.

Project manager Brad Thomason said builder Ryan Companies opted for a building rather than more common trailers for staff because a lot of space was needed on a small site. Office space for up to 24 people was required, and there wasn’t room at the 2-acre site for so many trailers. Thomason also noted that after the seven-story courthouse is completed in 2022, workers will deconstruct the house, which was built with screws rather than nails. All will be reused or donated except components such as insulation and wiring, which will be recycled.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Supreme Court has ended an effort in Iowa City to save an elementary school, saying that even as residents are voting on a preservation proposal, the district has a right to ignore their views and demolish the building. The decision Friday comes on a lawsuit brought by Iowa City Community School District patrons in 2017, after the school board refused to place on a special election ballot a measure asking voters whether to approve demolition of Hoover Elementary School. The school was dedicated in 1954 by former President Herbert Hoover, an Iowa native.

The state supreme court reversed a lower court’s ruling ordering the vote be held. The high court says state law only allows voters to weigh in on the sale, lease or other disposition of property, not demolition of property. Early voting on the measure opened two weeks ago. Johnson County officials now say votes on the issue won’t be tallied.

(UPDATE 10/21) – She has been found safe. Thank you!

Police in Glenwood are asking for your help in locating a Glenwood teen who has been missing since Thursday. Authorities have circulated a picture of 15-year old Brooklyn Handley. She was last seen wearing black leggings and a hoodie, but authorities say she has probably already changed clothes. If you have seen her or know where she is,  call the Glenwood Police Department at 712-527-4844. No other details concerning her disappearance are currently available.

Brooklyn Handley

The 25th biannual Halloween Hike, will be held on Saturday, October 26th, in Atlantic. As you follow a trail, you will hear “Squeaks, Squawks and Screeches” along the way. The hike begins at at 7:00 p.m., with small groups departing from the Camblin Addition of Sunnyside Park every ten minutes. Kids twelve and under are encouraged to arrive early to get their faces painted! The last group will depart at 8:20 p.m. and all hikers are welcome to enjoy free tasty treats and warm drinks after their hike.

Cass County Naturalist Lora Kanning says “It is not our intent to scare or frighten anyone, but to educate and entertain people of all ages!” Pre-registration is required for this FREE event. Please call 712-769-2372 or email lkanning@casscoia.us to make your reservations. If you leave a message please leave name, phone number, how many is in your group and what time you wish to depart on the hike! This hike is sponsored by the Cass County Conservation Board.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at 2.5% in September. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate didn’t change from August, as the number of people with and without jobs both increased. An estimated 1.69 million residents were employed in September, and 44,200 were unemployed. Iowa’s unemployment rate was tied for the second lowest in the country, along with New Hampshire and North Dakota. Vermont has the lowest rate, at 2.2%.

Iowa has a unique position in the history of railroads. Dr. Rudolph Daniels will explain more at his program, “Trains Across Iowa,” 2-p.m. this Sunday, October 20th, at the American Legion Memorial Building, 201 Poplar Street, Atlantic. Rudy Daniels knows trains. He has written articles and five books. He has been a consultant on Public TV productions and documentaries. He created the “Education Section” website portion for the Federal Railroad Administration for the nation’s schools. He has spoken internationally on a variety of topics that specialize in railroad history.

He will appear in an antique conductor’s uniform to present TRAINS ACROSS IOWA. Iowa was important in the construction of the first transcontinental railroad and contributed to railroad safety. Daniels will also describe the famous streamliners that crossed Iowa. This program is sponsored by Atlantic Rock Island Society Enterprise (ARISE) and supported by Atlantic Community Promotion Commission. Funding for speakers is provided by Humanities Iowa, a private non-profit state an affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

There is no fee to attend. Everyone is welcome. The meeting space is handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be offered. The Military Museum, Military Library and Atlantic History Center will be open for viewing.

Red Oak Police arrested a woman from Stanton at around 9:10-a.m. today (Friday). Authorities say 39-year old Delyne Annissa Bartlett was taken into custody in the 900 block of Inman Drive, for Providing Alcohol to a person or persons underage. The Alcohol was purchased Oct. 5th and supplied to the underage person or persons just after midnight on Oct. 6th. Bartlett was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $1,000 cash bond.

(Radio Iowa) — It may be harvest season, but Iowa’s chestnut trees don’t have much to offer as a year of wet weather decimated the crop. Tom Wahl of Red Fern Farm in Louisa County has about a thousand chestnut trees which usually produce a lucrative crop on his diverse farm. This year, his chestnut trees produced nothing and a few of his trees, in the wettest soil, died. Wahl is confident things will average out next year. Wahl says, “Typically what chestnuts do when a weather event prevents them from producing a crop one year, they produce a double-crop the following year.”

That won’t quite make his business whole, but it will go a long way. Statewide, the Iowa State University Extension estimates a chestnut harvest of less than one-third normal. Weather events over the past 12 months caused havoc on many of Iowa’s tree crops. Heavy fall rains, an abrupt November freeze, another hard frost after an early thaw and then spring flooding threatened apple, peach and chestnut trees over and over again. Wahl grows dozens of different fruit and nut trees. “We have no chestnut harvest this year,” Wahl says. “We had one, out of approximately 1,000 bearing trees, we had one single tree that had what looked like more-or-less a normal crop on it.”

Wahl says another 15 trees had a few nuts, but most had none. A small number of peach trees in the state also lost almost everything, according to the I-S-U Extension, though many varieties of apples did okay.

(Thanks to Amy Mayer, Iowa Public Radio)

KEOKUK, Iowa (AP) — A judge who presided over the trial of a man charged with murder in southeast Iowa must now decide whether he’s guilty. The nonjury trial of Adam McCain ended Thursday. He’s been charged with first-degree murder, accused of killing his former girlfriend, 27-year-old Calove Sackman. Authorities have said McCain stabbed Sackman once on Feb. 5 in Keokuk, got into his vehicle and ran her over, and then got back out and stabbed her several more times.

Defense attorney James Beres in his closing argument that the slaying was not premeditated and that McCain had a bipolar disorder and other problems that would make him compulsive.
Prosecutor Jonathan Stensvaag said McCain had told Sackman if she ever left, he’d kill her and her children. It’s not clear when the judge will announce her verdict.