(Update 11-a.m.) OSKALOOSA, Iowa (AP) — A south-central Iowa sheriff says a garbage truck driver was killed when he got caught by his truck’s compactor mechanism. The Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that deputies and medics were sent late Tuesday morning to a rural location a few miles east of Oskaloosa to check a report about the man. They discovered that he’d already died. He was identified as 39-year-old Robert Evans, of Oskaloosa.

Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem said today (Wednesday), that Evans had stopped the truck on the rural road, climbed up the frame to a spot between the cab top and the compactor and then was caught and crushed by the mechanism. An autopsy was ordered.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports three arrests took place, Tuesday. 27-year old Shialea Kay Cozard, of Pacific Junction, was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Possession of Prescription Drugs, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $2,300. 42-year old Travis Matthew Handley, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and cited for Speeding. His bond was set at $300. And, 37-year old David Jonathan Barnes, of Papillion, NE., was arrested on a Fugitive from Justice warrant, along with Possession of Contraband in a Jail Facility. His bond was set at $5,000.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports four prisoners from the Douglas County, Nebraska, Jail, were transported to Pott. County Corrections today (Wednesday), or Tuesday, to address their respective warrants, and one was transported to Pott. County from Crawford County. Among those transported from Nebraska, was:

• 49-year old Hector Alonso Aguilar, on warrants for Willful Injury Resulting in Serious Injury, and two counts of Child Endangerment.
• 23-year old Chance Parker Featherstone, on a warrant for Escape from Custody.
• 29-year old Eric L. Wilson, for Theft in the 1st Degree
• and, 37-year old Brandon Edward Drummer, for Violation of Probation.

In addition, 32-year old Carl Allen Jannsen was transported from Crawford County, to address a warrant for Violation of Parole.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Firefighters helped a crane operator reach safety after a fire broke out below at a building under construction in downtown Iowa City. Flames were being blown up and sideways Tuesday afternoon at the Hieronymous Square project. It’s unclear what started the blaze. No injuries have been reported.

Fire Chief John Grier says mist on the tower might have made it slick, so they took a precaution: Firefighter Andy Wulfekuhle climbed up the inside of the crane to fit the operator with a safety belt before his climb down. It’s unclear how much the fire will affect the project, which will include two 7-story towers with hotel, office, retail and apartment space.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A man who had said he was only defending himself when he beat another man at a central Iowa bar has been convicted of second-degree murder. On Monday a jury found 49-year-old Rodney Henricksen guilty. His sentencing is set for April 15. Joshua Sadlon, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, died a day after the incident at the Escape Lounge in Urbandale in January 2018.

Henricksen had said he’d tried to de-escalate threats made by the drunken Sadlon and said Iowa’s “stand your ground” law protected him from prosecution. The law says a person doesn’t have to retreat before using deadly force if he or she reasonably thinks his or her life is being threatened. The jury rejected his claim of self-defense. Prosecutors called it a bar beating, not a bar fight.