Several law enforcement agencies around the state, in recent months, have been responding to fake emergencies. It’s a growing problem across the country — a prank referred to as “swatting.” Colonel John Stuelke, with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, told KCRG-TV his agency has responded to three swatting calls in the last 12 months. It involves a fake emergency call that sends all available law enforcement to one location — something that creates serious safety concerns.

“It’s not only the call itself that makes it serious, but we have people running red lights and sirens to these calls and that’s always a dangerous situation too,” Stuelke said. Linn County Sheriff’s Major Gerald Hansel told KCRG there are several possible motives behind the calls. “He’s checking our response, maybe he doesn’t like someone so he’s trying to get them in trouble,” Hansel said.

Swatting calls can pull officers away from real emergencies, so even if the calls are meant to be joke, the consequences can be serious. Anyone caught swatting can face criminal charges. Earlier this week, officers surrounded a home in the Linn County town of Toddville after a caller dialed police claiming to have shot an individual and threatening to hurt more people in the home. The call was prank, similar to other swatting calls in Fairfax in December 2014 and Robins in March 2015.

(KCRG/Radio Iowa)

CHARLES CITY, Iowa (AP) – A Charles City woman has claimed her second $30,000 prize from one of the Iowa Lottery’s scratch games. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that Donna Holtz claimed her prize Monday after buying her winning “Bonus Crossword” game ticket on Sunday at Hy-Vee Gas in Charles City. She says she won her first $30,000 top prize in a similar version of the Crossword game in 2001.

Holtz says she and her husband, Doug, plan to spend the winnings on new windows for their house and a newer vehicle.

The first of many “Produce in the Park” events in Atlantic saw more than 100 shoppers congregate in the downtown City Park, Thursday evening. Event organizers say those who stopped by found locally grown strawberries, lots of greens and more. They also grabbed up fresh made pies, rolls and breads, while enjoying music provided by Atlantic High School band chorus members.

The YMCA kept kids busy making flubber and jumping in bounce houses. Teamwork by vendors, organizations, businesses and volunteers make it possible to provide the farmers market in Atlantic City Park every Thursday, from 4:30-until 6:30-p.m.

More area and State News from KJAN News Director Ric Hanson.

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A Union County man was arrested Thursday on a warrant out of Polk County for Dissemination and Exhibition of Obscene material to a minor. Creston Police say 36-year old Jason Ford, of Creston, was arrested at the Union County Courthouse and later turned over to Polk County authorities.

The 7:07-a.m. report w/KJAN News Director Ric Hanson

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A distracted driver caused a chain reaction accident in Atlantic Thursday afternoon. Atlantic Police say Madison Wookey, of Red Oak, was traveling south on Highway 6 on the west side of town at around 2:10-p.m., when she reached down to adjust her car radio. As she did so, Wookey failed to notice two vehicles in front of her had stopped, while the first vehicle was waiting to turn left into a church driveway.
Wookey’s 2010 Dodge Avenger ran into the rear of a 2006 Ford Taurus, driven by Venus Dreyer, of Harlan, which was pushed into the rear of a 2004 Toyota Camry, driven by Anthony Smith, of Atlantic.

Dreyer suffered minor injuries in the crash and was transported by Medivac Ambulance to the Cass County Memorial Hospital, for treatment. Smith also went to the hospital and complaining of pain. Damage from the crash amounted to $9,900.

Police cited Wookey for Failure to Stop in an Assured, Clear Distance.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reports two people were arrested on separate charges late Thursday night. At around 11:20-p.m., 33-year old Carlton John Dolph, of Villisca, was arrested for Driving While Suspended, with seven withdrawals in effect. Dolph was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $566 bond.

And at around 10-p.m. Thursday, Red Oak Police arrested 27-year old Erik Gomez Gonzalez, of Red Oak, following a traffic stop. Gonzalez was taken into custody on a warrant out of Adams County for Driving While Suspended. He was also cited for Driving without a valid driver’s license. Gonzalez was being held in the Montgomery County Jail pending pick up by Adams County deputies.