DES MOINES, Iowa — Law enforcement has cancelled a previously issued “Attempt to Locate” for missing Melcher teenager Liberty “Libby” Boley. Through cooperation between law enforcement authorities in Iowa and Texas, Libby was found unharmed this (Friday) morning in south Texas. Iowa law enforcement, including the Division of Criminal Investigation, Melcher-Dallas Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marion County Attorney’s Office, continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Libby’s disappearance. Law enforcement would like to thank the public for their vigilance and commitment to helping locate Libby.

14-year old Liberty Boley

Beginning in September 2018, law enforcement agencies began responding to numerous burglaries of rural businesses all across the state of Iowa and Minnesota.  The burglar forced their way into business late at night when the businesses were closed.  The burglar would steal primarily cash from these businesses.  Law enforcement agencies across the state have been worked together sharing details of the burglaries and video surveillance to try and identify, locate and arrest the burglary suspect.

Eric Todd Halll

Through cooperation and information sharing, law enforcement officials were able to identify 43-year old Eric Todd Hall as the suspect in the burglaries. Hall has outstanding warrant from the State of Wisconsin for Probation Violation.  Both the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office and Council Bluffs Police Departments in Iowa had also filed warrants for Hall’s arrest to include; 3 counts of Burglary 3rd degree, Eluding and Interference with Official Acts respectively.

On Wednesday, January 16, 2019, an off duty Guthrie County Deputy located Hall at the Prairie Meadows Casino in Altoona.  The Deputy notified Polk County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded and attempted to arrest Hall on his outstanding warrants.  He initially resisted Deputies during his arrest, but was taken into custody.  Polk County authorities have charged Hall with Criminal Mischief 2nd and Interference with official Acts.  Hall is suspected to be involved in over 25 burglaries across the state of Iowa.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is working with the numerous Sheriff’s Offices and Police Departments across the state on this ongoing investigation.

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A judge has found a northwest Iowa man guilty of second-degree murder for killing his sister more than 2½ years ago. Judge Jeffrey Neary said Friday in Plymouth County District Court that 36-year-old Thomas Bibler was under the influence of a sleeping aid when he stabbed to death Shannon Bogh outside her home in Le Mars. The judge says that intoxication made Bibler unable to form the specific intent to kill his 27-year-old sister. Intent is one of the elements required for a first-degree murder conviction. Neary had presided over the nonjury trial . Bibler is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 22.

Police in Glenwood report two arrests took place Thursday. 31-year old Jared Pomerenke, a homeless person, was arrested for Domestic Abuse Assault. His bond was set at $2,000. And, 34-year old Travis Long, of Council Bluffs, was arrested for Driving While Barred, and Violation of a No Contact Order. His bond was also set at $2,000.

Glenwood Police took a report about a hit-and-run accident, Thursday night. A legally parked 2006 Chevy Blazer was struck on driver’s side, causing about $4,000 damage. There were no witnesses to the incident, but the vehicle which struck the SUV left remnants of dark blue paint behind. The incident happened sometime around 8:30-p.m., Thursday in the 700 block of Nukolls Street, in Glenwood.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at a national low of 2.4 percent in December. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate didn’t change as the number of unemployed resident remained at an estimated 40,600. The number of residents with jobs rose slightly to 1,651,300. Iowa’s rate compared to the national December rate of 3.9 percent. Iowa had the nation’s lowest unemployment rate, ahead of the 2.5 percent rates in Hawaii and New Hampshire. It was the third straight month that Iowa had a 2.4 percent rate.

The Mayor of Glenwood, Ron Kohn, has proclaimed a “Snow Emergency” for the City of Glenwood, effective 5-p.m. today (Friday). Under the proclamation, no vehicle or apparatus is allowed to be unattended or abandoned on any public street or City-Owned parking lot, other than designated overnight parking areas. The Snow Emergency parking ban will continue until the snow stops, and all roads are plowed.

Two separate arrests were reported Thursday, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Office reports 36-year old Curtis Joseph Aldridge, of Creston, was arrested at around 12:15-a.m., near the intersection of Highway 275 and 34. He was taken into custody for Providing False Identification Information, Driving Under Suspension, Failure to show proof of insurance, Unsafe turn or Failure to give a turn signal, Open Container and Interference with Official Acts. His bond was set at slightly more than $2,216.

And, at around 10:45-a.m. Thursday, Mills County Deputies arrested 24-year old Jason Thomas Meidl, of Council Bluffs. He was taken into custody at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for Probation Violation. His bond was set at $10,000.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys are seeking a new trial for a black Iowa teenager convicted of murder after a juror reported other members of the jury made racially charged comments before the conviction. The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that jurors testified Thursday about comments allegedly made last year during the trial of 18-year-old Doncorrion Spates. He was found guilty of murder in the 2016 shooting death of Otavioius Brown.

One juror who was called by the defense said a male juror made a comment about African Americans being involved in gangs. The juror said a female juror also commented that black people are “desensitized to killing people.” Five jurors called by the prosecution said they didn’t hear any racial comments and that race didn’t play a role in their decision. Court officials say the hearing will continue at a future date.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A new website is helping nonprofits in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area to connect generosity with need. The Omaha World-Herald reports that the SHARE Omaha website launched Thursday. The site includes information about what local nonprofits need in terms of volunteers, money or items. More than 200 nonprofits are listed on the site. The site features nonprofits in Douglas, Sarpy, Dodge, Saunders and Washington counties in Nebraska, and Pottawattamie, Mills and Harrison counties in Iowa.

SHARE Omaha Executive Director Marjorie Maas says the platform has an all-inclusive approach and lists organizations of various sizes and with various missions. She says the goal is to make it easier for local residents to find nonprofits that need help. David Scott of the Suzanne & Walter Scott Foundation proposed the idea in Omaha after seeing a similar project in North Carolina.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former jailer accused of assaulting a Polk County Jail inmate has pleaded not guilty. Polk County court records say 45-year-old Jason Herndon entered the plea last week to an assault charge. His next court hearing is scheduled for Feb. 14. The records say the inmate suffered a small cut on the inside of his lip Dec. 3. The Des Moines Register reports that Herndon quit his job after being placed on leave.

The inmate told investigators that Herndon was cursing at inmates and calling them names that day. The inmate says that when he protested, Herndon entered his cell and choked him.