Officials with the Sioux County Sheriff’s Office report that on Sunday, January 28th, the Sheriff’s Office investigated a report of an unresponsive inmate at the Sioux County Jail.  At approximately 6:30 pm, Detention Officers located an unresponsive inmate in a cell and rendered emergency aid. The rescue efforts were unsuccessful and the inmate was pronounced deceased by the Sioux County Medical Examiner.  The name of the inmate was being withheld as of this report, and the case will be investigated by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Orange City Ambulance and the Orange City Police Department.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa county is considering its response to a lawsuit filed by an Arizona man who spent two months in jail for a robbery he didn’t commit. The Linn County Board of Supervisors met in closed session Monday to consider the lawsuit filed by 23-year-old Joseph McBride. The county hasn’t answered the lawsuit, which alleges County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden signed a complaint against McBride containing false statements.

McBride was 1,500 miles away when a violent 2017 robbery occurred in Cedar Rapids, his former hometown. The victim told police that a Facebook photo of McBride appeared to match one of the assailants. Investigators never spoke to McBride before he was arrested, shipped by prison van to Iowa, and jailed 61 days. He was released after investigators checked his alibi, which included time-stamped photos of him in Arizona.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a body found on the ground in a Waterloo cemetery has been identified as that of a missing Waterloo woman. The body of 40-year-old Lakisha Williams was found around 3 p.m. Friday in a remote area of Garden of Memories cemetery. Her mother had reported her missing Thursday. She was last seen around 5 p.m. Jan. 20 near her apartment. Police say Williams’ death is suspicious.

Her husband is being held in St. Paul, Minnesota, on a warrant charging him with being a fugitive from justice. Iowa records indicate he’s served prison time for burglary, robbery and weapons crimes.

The Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office reports a man wanted on a warrant for Violation of Parole, was arrested Friday morning after he turned himself-in to the sheriff’s office. 27-year old Benjamin Wyatt Barnes, of Carter Lake, appeared at the Sheriff’s Office at around 10:30-a.m., Friday. After the warrant was confirmed, Barnes was transported to the Pottawattamie County Jail. Jail staff were advised Barnes was sometimes armed and dangerous, and that he was a sexually violent predator, known to abuse drugs. He was booked into the jail without incident.

NEW HAMPTON, Iowa (AP) — A trial has been delayed for a northeast Iowa woman whose dead 4-month-old son was found in an infant swing, his body infested with maggots. The delay in the trial of 20-year-old Cheyanne Harris came at the request of her lawyer, who wanted more time to prepare the defense case. The trial had been scheduled to begin Wednesday. The judge set a new trial starting date of June 11 in New Hampton.

Harris and the baby’s father, Zachary Koehn, have pleaded not guilty to charges of child endangerment and first-degree murder in the death of their son, Sterling Koehn. Koehn’s trial is set to begin March 28. Authorities say deputies and medics called to the couple’s Alta Vista apartment on Aug. 30 found Sterling dead in the swing.

Adair County Sheriffs Jeff Vandewater reports four arrests took place over the past week. Last Thursday night, 36-year old Mathew Douglas Minnick, of Adair, was arrested by Adair Police for Criminal Trespass and Theft in the 5th Degree, with regard to an incident at the Casey’s Store in Adair, whereby he admittedly to not paying for a fountain pop before leaving the store. Minnick was released from custody Friday afternoon on a $300 cash or surety bond. Earlier that evening, 20-year old David Gerard Krawczyk, of Omaha, was arrested by an Iowa State Patrol Trooper. The Trooper had pulled over a 1994 Buick on Interstate 80, about three-miles east of Adair, for having expired plates.

The Trooper said that while speaking with the driver, it became clear that the passenger (Krawczyk) was the owner of the vehicle. Krawczyk told the Trooper the Buick was his father’s car. After the Trooper asked Krawczyk for his father’s name and his name to compare the possible registered owners, Krawczyk identified himself as Andrew Krawczyk (David’s brother). During the traffic stop, the driver stated his passenger’s name was David. While speaking with the Trooper in his patrol vehicle, Krawczyk admitted his real name. He said he lied about his identity because of a warrant for his arrest. David Krawczyk was taken into custody for Providing False Information, and on the warrant. He was later released on a $10,300 cash or surety bond.

And Jan. 24th, 41-year old Joseph Eric Funke, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Bridgewater, for Contempt of Court – Failure to be fingerprinted within 30-days of a June 9th court order. Funke was later released on a $100 cash bond or surety. On Jan. 23rd, 26-year old Cody Leon Zimmerline, of Adair, was arrested by Adair County Deputies on an Adair County warrant for Violation of Probation. He remains in the Adair County Jail. On January 22nd, 32-year old Curtis Eugene Baird, of Fontanelle, was arrested in Fontanelle, for having provided a False name and date of birth to a Deputy,, and Driving Under Suspension. Baird was released the following day on his Own Recognizance.

The president of the Iowa Senate is hinting Republicans are ready to end state payments to cities and counties that were promised to make up for expected lost tax revenue. The state payments began after the legislature voted in 2013 to roll back commercial property tax rates. Senate President Jack Whitver, a Republican from Ankeny, says 150-million in state tax dollars WILL be forwarded to cities and counties in the current year — but next year’s payments are up for debate. “I believe there’s general agreement in the legislature that we don’t want to touch that for the current fiscal year,” Whitver says. “Those cities and counties have already certified their budgets. It would be very difficult for them to go back and change that, but I believe they should be on the table for the next few years.”

The 2013 property tax changes approved by Republican Governor Terry Branstad, the Republican-led Iowa House and Democratically-controlled Iowa Senate not only reduced commercial property tax assessments by 10 percent, property taxes for apartments were reduced as well. City officials say the state payments are not compensating for lost tax revenue — and if the state payments end they’ll be forced to cuts in city services. Whitver and other Republican leaders argue cities have benefited from the legislature’s move to reduce property taxes five years ago. “Many places around the state have seen tremendous growth since then both with assessments and with new buildings and so I believe we should look at phasing that out over time,” Whitver says. “…We obviously don’t want to do something that’s harmful, but ultimately that’s $150 million that we’re paying to the cities and counties that we’d like to phase out. I’d like to phase out.”

In December, Governor Kim Reynolds said she wants to bring city and county officials into the negotiations over if and when the payments from the state end. Whitver made his comments during a weekend appearance on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press” program.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A Des Moines park that for decades drew thousands of people for its amusement park rides, music and dancing is set to return. The Des Moines Register reports that Riverview Park advocates have announced $4 million in funding that will pay for an outdoor concert venue and other features.

The Parks Area Foundation is a nonprofit formed by residents of the north-side Oak Park, Highland Park and Union Park neighborhoods and has been the driving force behind the park restoration project. The group has raised $750,000 by flipping burgers and selling hot dogs during summer gatherings. It also secured financial support from the city of Des Moines, Polk County and Prairie Meadows.

The park opened in 1915 and was modeled after Brooklyn’s Coney Island. It closed in 1978.

Atlantic Police Chief Dave Erickson reports two women were arrested over the weekend. On Saturday, 24-year old Kayla Compton, of Atlantic, was arrested after she turned herself-in to the Cass County Jail on charges that include Reckless Use of a Firearm causing injury, and Child Endangerment. The charges stem from an incident at her home, whereby she was allegedly intoxicated and unloading a pistol that discharged and shot her in the leg. Compton was booked into the jail and subsequently released.

And, on Sunday, 54-year old Paula Goettsche, of Atlantic, was arrested for OWI/2nd offense. She was booked into the Cass County Jail.