The U-S Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa reports 39-year old Brandon Robert Fry, of Creston, was sentenced today (Monday) to 188 months in prison, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. Fry was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release to follow his prison term and pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Fry plead guilty to this offense on October 11, 2019. He admitted that he knowingly possessed over 500 grams of methamphetamine on June 4, 2019, which was found by law enforcement in a white Mercedes, in Creston. Fry admitted that he had intended to distribute the methamphetamine. At the time of this offense, Fry was on federal supervised release for a prior conviction of Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

The matter was investigated by the United States Probation Office, Des Moines Police Department, Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Creston Police Department, and the Mid-Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task force. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Clarinda Police Department reports four Clarinda Academy students who left the campus early this (Monday) afternoon, were taken into custody in the area of 190th and Quincy Road, at around 1:50-p.m. They were apprehended by Page County Sheriff’s Deputies, Clarinda Academy Staff, and Clarinda Police.

Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh reports that on Wednesday, March 4th, the Food Bank of the Heartland Mobile Food Pantry is coming to Atlantic High School from 4:00-6:00 PM. The mobile pantry provides free shelf-stable and perishable food to individuals and families. The mobile pantry is free and open to anyone. There is no need to pre-register for the event. However, attendees are encouraged to bring shopping bags, if available.

Volunteers are needed to help unload the Food Bank of the Heartland truck from 3:30-4:00, and to help distribute food and carry it out to cars from 4:00-6:00. Volunteers are encouraged, but not required, to RSVP to Cass County Wellness Coordinator Brigham Hoegh at 712-249-5870 or bhoegh@iastate.edu.

For more information or a reminder later on, look for the event posted on Facebook under Healthy Cass County.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest on Sunday, of 22-year old Michael Jonathan Mitchell, from Lincoln, NE. He was taken into custody at around 5:17-a.m. at 195th Street and Highway 34, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond was set at $300. And, late Friday morning, 29-year old Keith James Land, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pott. County Jail, on a Mills County warrant for Theft in the 2nd Degree.

Two separate traffic stops in Mills County last Friday night resulted in one pursuit and a total of three arrests. The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says the Mills County K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a pickup truck at around 7:30-p.m., Friday, in the area of Highway 34 and 195th Street. The driver of the vehicle – later identified as 36-year old Mickie Gene Weppner, of Omaha – at first pulled over, but then took-off as deputies approached.

Mickie Gene Weppner

Weppner led deputies on a short pursuit before entering the north ditch of Highway 34, and crashing into a drainage ditch. He then attempted to flee on foot, but because he was injured in the crash, Weppner didn’t make it very far.

After he was taken into custody, Weppner was found to have had an active warrant out of Douglas County, NE., and the 2006 Chevy Silverado he was driving, was reported stolen out of Omaha, on Thursday. Weppner was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital for treatment of injuries, and later transported to the Mills County Jail, where he was being held on a $15,000 cash-only bond. He faces charges that include: Theft in the 1st degree; Felony Eluding; Interference with Official Acts; Operating a Non-Registered vehicle; Failure to Maintain Control; and Fugitive from Justice (FJ). His bond was set at $15,000, with NO Bond for the FJ chargeThe Mills County K9 Unit was assisted during the incident, by Glenwood Police, Iowa State Patrol, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, Glenwood and Pacfic Junction Rescue.

The second traffic stop in Mills County happened on Highway 34 at Kidd Road, at around 11:48-p.m. Friday. A BMW was pulled over and a probable search was conducted, during which deputies located meth, three different types of prescription drugs, and drug paraphernalia. The female driver, 33-year old Jessica Delores Monjarez, of Omaha, was arrested and held in the Mills County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond. She was charged with 4 counts Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and a Drug Tax Stamp Violation. Her passenger… 38-year old Gregory Anthony Garcia, of Omaha… was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, and held on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Monjarez and Garcia

The Mills County K9 Unit was assisted at the scene by the Glenwood Police Dept.

Clarinda Police Chief Keith Brothers reports four male students at the Clarinda Academy escaped at around 12:37-p.m., today (Monday). The group was last seen running west from the campus. A search is underway by law enforcement and Academy staff. A description of the youth and was not immediately available

The Clarinda Academy is a residential academic and behavioral health treatment facility for at-risk youth.

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office reports two Webster County men were arrested Saturday on drug charges, following a traffic stop. 26-year old Tyron Tepri Gully, of Fort Dodge, was arrested for Felony, Possession of Marijuana 3rd or Subsequent Offense; and, 19-year old Tyraius Percel McElroy, of Fort Dodge, was arrested for Possession of Marijuana 1st Offense. Both men were taken to the Cass County Jail. McElroy was released later that day on $1,000 bond; Gully was released later that day on $5,000 bond.

And, on Feburary 19th, 2020, Cass County Sheriff’s deputies arrested 47-year old Christopher Michael Green, of Atlantic, on a District Court warrant for Failure to Appear. Green was taken to the Cass County Jail where he remains on $2,000 bond.