The Creston Police Department reports one recent arrest. Thursday, 32-year old Jared James Wilmeth, of Creston, was arrested on a Union County warrant for Violation of Probation. Wilmeth was being held in the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond.

And, a Creston man residing in the 400 block of New York Avenue reported Thursday, that sometime between 10:30-p.m. July 19th and 7:30-a.m. July 20th, someone broke into his home and stole a safe. The loss was estimated at $200.

A red wooden wagon, a piece of one of the most infamous cold cases in Iowa history, is going to be on display at this year’s Iowa State Fair. Ron Sampson of Des Moines has possession of the wagon – which was being used by Johnny Gosch on the morning of September 5, 1982 to deliver newspapers. The wagon was left behind when the 12-year-old boy vanished. So, why does Sampson want to showcase the wagon at the Fair? “We’re certainly not trying to commercialize anything,” Sampson says.

Gosch’s apparent kidnapping remains unsolved 35 years later — despite countless news reports, a documentary, and books about his disappearance. Sampson says he wanted to put the wagon on display for all fair-goers to see as a “tribute” to Gosch’s parents.  “John and Noreen went on a crusade to make things safer for young children, for parents, and helping law enforcement with getting things done and reported,” Sampson said. “I guess I would reach back and say they were the very beginning of the Amber Alert. They were the first people to have a child on milk cartons.”

John and Noreen Gosch divorced in 1993. Sampson, now a real estate agent, became friends with the couple after their son disappeared. At the time, Sampson was owner of the Ankeny Press Citizen and he wrote a series of articles about the case. “They plowed some important ground legislatively and just everyday life. Things changed because of John and Noreen,” Sampson said. “I think if this wagon symbolizes anything it’s the great changes that they made happen for today’s parents.”

Johnny Gosch wagon

The Iowa State Patrol has agreed to include the wagon among its displays inside the Grandstand at the Iowa State Fair. Gosch’s father, John, sent the wagon to Sampson around a year ago. “He had the wagon and just said, ‘There needs to be a better place for it, a place that will touch people and mean something to people.’ He was going to start traveling at this point in his life and didn’t want anything to happen to the wagon,” Sampson said.

On the back of the red wagon, the name “Gosch” is painted in black lettering. The Iowa State Fair in Des Moines is scheduled for August 10-20.

(Radio Iowa)

A Jefferson man is jailed on charges including attempted murder after an altercation last week. Twenty-three-year-old Niko Lee Rice, of Jefferson, was taken into custody by the Jefferson Police Department Wednesday. According to authorities, officers were called to the scene of a physical altercation on Thursday, July 13 in Jefferson around 5 p.m. after a neighbor reported screaming. When officers arrived on scene, they found a female victim who showed signs of obvious injuries and trauma.

She told law enforcement Rice had struck her with closed fists and attempted to choke her with his belt. She was transported to Greene County Medical Center by Greene County Emergency Medical Services and later taken to a Des Moines hospital. Rice turned himself in soon after the incident and informed police he had ingested a large amount of prescription medication. He was taken to the hospital in Jefferson and later transported to a facility in Council Bluffs.

Authorities arrested Rice immediately after he was released from the facility Wednesday. He is currently being held at the Greene County jail and has been charged with attempted murder, a class B felony; willful injury, a class C felony’ domestic abuse assault and impeding airflow, a class D felony and second degree harassment, a serious misdemeanor.

(Radio Iowa)

ANKENY, Iowa (AP) – A state board has approved construction of a psychiatric hospital in Bettendorf. The Iowa Health Facilities Council voted 4-1 Thursday at its meeting in Ankeny in favor of the $15 million, 72-bed hospital proposed by Strategic Behavioral Health, which is based in Memphis, Tennessee.
The project was opposed by two major health care systems in the Quad Cities area. Their officials told the board they already offer sufficient services and would be harmed by a facility built by the for-profit company.

Supporters testified that the hospital would provide desperately needed mental health services for eastern Iowa. The Iowa Health Facilities Council is charged with determining whether large health care projects are necessary or whether they would create expensive duplication of services.

A chase in Council Bluffs early this morning, ended with a man taken into custody on multiple charges. According to Council Bluffs Police, 59-year old Michael J. Flanagan, of Council Bluffs, was booked into the Pottawattamie County Jail on charges that include: OWI/2nd offense; Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash; Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash; Eluding; Interference with Official Acts; Driving While Disqualified; No Proof of Insurance – Accident related; and Improper Use of a Controlled Access Facility.

Michael Flanagan

His arrest followed an incident that began a little after 1:45-a.m.. Authorities say a Council Bluffs Police officer, in a fully marked vehicle, was driving north bound on South Expressway. As he was approaching the 900 block of South Expressway. he noted a vehicle, a Gray 2014 Ford Focus, driving directly at him. The vehicle was traveling in the wrong direction, south bound in the north bound lanes. The officer activated his emergency lighting in attempts to warn / stop the driver.

The vehicle continued south bound as the officer pulled to the side of the road to try to avoid being struck. The vehicle sideswiped the police cruiser causing minor damage and continued south bound. After striking the police cruiser, the car then struck another vehicle that was northbound behind the cruiser on South Expressway. The driver of the second vehicle was a 46-year old man from Council Bluffs. The Focus continued south bound after striking the second vehicle.

The officer was able to get turned around on the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop on it. The Focus refuse to yield and fled from the officer. Officers pursued after the vehicle and were able to deploy stop sticks on it flattening all four of the Focus’s tires. The vehicle was disabled and came to a stop in the parking lot of Casey’s General Store (at 510 23rd Ave). Officers were able to take the driver, later identified as Flanagan, into custody.

The 46 year old male driver of the vehicle Flanagan struck after striking the police cruiser suffered minor injuries and was treated at the hospital. The officer struck was not injured.

Police in Red Oak report the arrest Thursday evening, of 36-year old Daniel Edward Miller, of Elliott. Miller was taken into custody at the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center on a valid Montgomery County warrant for Willful Injury. He remains in the jail on a $5,000 cash bond.