COUNCIL BLUFFS – The Iowa Department of Corrections reports a man convicted in Cass County of Robbery in the 2nd Degree, escaped from the Council Bluffs Residential Facility early Sunday morning. Courtney Derrell Bennett is a 46-year-old black male, six-feet three-inches tall. He was 178 pounds.

Courtney Derrell Bennett

Bennett was admitted to the work release facility on September 16, 2020. Persons with information on Bennett’s whereabouts should contact local police.

Bennett was convicted on the Class C felony robbery charge in Dec. 2013. He had been arrested that year in connection with the armed robbery in Aug. 2013, of America’s Best Value Inn in Cass County.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — A man with a gunshot wound died shortly after his arrival at a Cedar Rapids hospital early Sunday morning. Cedar Rapids Police said the man was brought to the hospital by a private vehicle around 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

The man’s identity wasn’t immediately released on Sunday. Police did not release any details about the shooting Sunday. No arrests were reported.

A woman driving a 2019 Toyota RAV 4, claims the “Lane Assist” feature in her vehicle caused the SUV to leave the road Saturday night near Yale, in Guthrie County. Authorities say 43-year old Denise Katherine Beadle, of Jefferson, was traveling west on Highway 141 at around 8:30-p.m. As the vehicle was rounding a curve heading northwest on the highway, Beadle told Deputies the lane assist feature took control of the wheel out of her hands because it was directing the car westbound instead of allowing her to take the curve around.

The vehicle left the road and ended-up in a ditch in an area between the curve and main highway. Beadle was uninjured. Her vehicle sustained $5,000 damage. No citations were issued.

Four people were transported to the hospital following crash Saturday afternoon, in Carroll County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, a 2008 Dodge passenger car was traveling west on 170th Street at around 12:40-p.m., the same time as a 2015 Chevy pickup was traveling east. When the car crested a hill, it was left of the center line and struck the pickup in a head-on/ sideswipe fashion. Afterward, the car came to rest in the north ditch. The pickup rolled over once and came to rest on its wheels in the opposite ditch.

Authorities say the driver of the car, 26-year old Tyler Mattingly, of Fort Dodge, was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital. Two passengers were also flown by Unity Point helicopter to Methodist Hospital: 25-year old Jacob Lawler, of Wall Lake, and 21-year old Jordan Downs, of Denver, CO. One other passenger, 22-year-old Aubri Roper, of Paton, was transported to Saint Anthony’s Hospital by ambulance.

Authorities say a distracted driver was a possible factor in the collision, which remains under investigation.

VINTON, Iowa – Officials with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation report that at or about 9-a.m. Saturday, January 2nd, deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a request for a welfare check at a residence  in the 2900 block of 28th Avenue, in rural Vinton.

Upon arrival, authorities located the body of a deceased male identified as 84-year-old James Howard Bright. Bright’s death is currently being investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, and the Iowa State Patrol.

Authorities say, “At this time, it is believed there is no threat to public safety.”