The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office today (Thursday), released a report on arrests/court cases and/or incidents taking place from May 12th through the 29th. Most recently:

On Wednesday (5/29) Authorities were called to the 1200 block of Cedar road for a vehicle in the ditch and occupant attempting to remove the vehicle.  Upon further investigation, 21-year-old Dustin Paul Updike, of Portsmouth, was arrested on charges of public intoxication, and cited for failure to maintain control and transported to the jail without incident.   Updike was released after posting the bond a short time later.

On May 24th, 54-year-old Richard Vernon Schiernbeck, of Harlan, was sentenced to 5 years in prison in the District Court of Shelby County.   Schiernbeck, originally arrested on charges in March 2018 for Delivery/Manufacture of controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, prohibited acts, and possession of drug paraphernalia, among multiple traffic tickets.  Schiernbeck was turned over to custody of the Sheriff to be transported to the Iowa Department of Corrections.

Also on May 24th, Shelby County authorities were dispatched to residence in Irwin around 8:30-a.m., for an assault that had taken place.  Upon arrival and further investigation, 29-year-old Rick Allen Gorka was arrested for domestic abuse assault and transported to the jail.

On May 23rd, 61-year-old David Lowell Harris, of Atlantic, was arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated – 1st offense, driving while license revoked, and no proof of insurance as a result of a traffic stop along highway 173 in Elk Horn.   Harris was transported to jail without incident and released a few hours later after posting the required bond.

On May 20th, in Shelby County District Court 28-year-old Khadijah Meeks, of Harlan, was sentenced to 28 days in the county jail for being found guilty of violation of probation from previous charges.  Meeks was turned over to custody of the Sheriff and transported to the jail where she will serve her sentence.

May 16th, 52-year-old Kristina Marie Merical, of Greenfield, was arrested in Shelby County, as a result of a traffic stop along the 300 block of Highway 173.   Merical was charged with possession of controlled substance (meth) 3rd or subsequent, possession of controlled substance (marijuana) 2nd offense, prohibited acts, along with traffic tickets.  Merical was transported to the jail where she was held until posting bond later that evening.

On May 15th, 52-year-old Sean Lee Zellers (homeless) was arrested at a county park and transported to jail being charged with possession of controlled substance (meth), prohibited acts, possession of drug paraphernalia, and multiple traffic tickets.   Zellers was transported to the jail and is currently being held under $5,000 cash/surety bond pending future court date.

May 14th, Shelby County authorities arrested 31-year-old Cory Robert Kyle, of Avoca, on drug charges.  Kyle was charged with Controlled substance violation (B Felony) and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Kyle was transported to the jail where he is being held under $50,000 cash/surety bond and awaiting a future court date.

On May 13th, 24-year-old Jonathan Lee Jay Behrens turned himself into authorities at the jail for an active warrant for violation of probation.   Behrens was processed into the facility without incident and held under bond pending future court date.  Behrens was later released to another agency for an outstanding warrant on May 20th, after pleading guilty on Shelby County charge and given credit for time served.

And finally, on May 12th, 21-year-old Preston Blakely Scott was arrested as a result of a traffic stop in Shelby County, by the Iowa State Patrol.   Scott was charged with driving while license suspended and transported to the jail without incident, and released the following morning pending appearance from the magistrate.