A fugitive from justice, wanted in Illinois, was arrested Thursday, in Mills County. Sheriff’s officials say 68-year old Gregory Sam Kouris, from Marengo, IL, was taken into custody at around 5:30-p.m., in Glenwood. Additional information concerning the warrant for his arrest is not currently available.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office says also, a Glenwood resident reported a burglary and theft, Thursday. The incident occurred at a location off of 221st Street, in Glenwood. No other details are available.

The Harlan Police Department has released a lengthy report on arrests and accidents which took place over the past two-and a half weeks. In recent activity, officials say 21-year old Jesse Seyler, of Harlan, was arrested April 29th, on an enhanced Possession of a Controlled Substance charge, along with consuming alcohol in a public place, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On April 28th, Harlan Police officers arrested 33-year old Jose Rivera, of Harlan, for domestic abuse assault, following an investigation into an alleged altercation in the parking lot of Myrtue Medical Center. The day before, 29-year old Gabriel Brown, of Harlan, was arrested on charges of Ongoing Criminal Conduct and on two-counts of Forgery, following an investigation into several checks that were stolen, forged and cashed. Brown allegedly asked two persons to assist him in cashing the checks. Additional charges are currently pending.

Due to recent rain and snow events, the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency has reduced the grassland and field fire danger rating to “Low.” The risk factor had been in the “Moderate” category over the past week. Officials say the latest rating will be in effect until at least Monday, May 6th.

The Atlantic Police Department has released more information about an accident that occurred Thursday morning, at 9th and Cherry Streets. Officials say vehicles driven by Helen Gearhart and Mathew Watts, both of Atlantic, collided at around 8:50-a.m., when Gearhart’s vehicle, which was traveling east on 9th,  stopped at the intersection, but then proceeded into the intersection, where her car was hit by Watts’ SUV, as Watts was traveling south on Cherry.

Gearhart was transported to the Cass County Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Damage from the crash amounted to $10,000. No citations were issued. In other news, the A-PD reports 27-year old Summer Cole, of Atlantic, was arrested Thursday on a Cass County warrant for a Probation Violation. Cole was booked into the Cass County Jail.

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.8MB)

Subscribe: RSS

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (6.5MB)

Subscribe: RSS

After a week long trial and two-days of deliberations, a jury in Pottawattamie County handed down a verdict of “Guilty” against a Crescent man facing first- and second-degree kidnapping charges. The Omaha World-Herald reports the decision against 39-year old Bryan Bey was reached Thursday. Bey was accused of kidnapping and assaulting 30-year old Tabitha Proplesch, of Council Bluffs, on March 30th, 2012.The woman was found handcuffed and beaten the next day, in a pickup truck that had run out of gas, west of Crescent.

Bey represented himself at his trial, during which he said authorities lied, destroyed and planted evidence. The trial also featured several heated exchanges between Bey and some witnesses. Bey, and 33-year old Travis Labno, of Omaha, were arrested in connection with the incident. The charges against Labno were later dropped.

Authorities in Page County are investigating a burglary and theft which occurred sometime between April 25th and May 1st, in rural Clarinda.  David Stanley reported to the Page County Sheriff’s Department, that someone entered his home and took a Sharp 37-inch TV, and a cup containing an unknown amount of change. The loss was estimated at $370.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – The hunt for a man suspected of shooting a police officer in northwest Iowa has spread to Omaha. Officers surrounded a block about a mile west of downtown Omaha on Thursday night, but Jamal Dean wasn’t found during the 90-minute search.  He’s suspected of shooting Sioux City Police Officer Kevin McCormick. Authorities believe Dean has ties to the Omaha area.

Police say McCormick pulled over a car on Monday afternoon in Sioux City. McCormick was still in his cruiser when a man stepped out of the car and opened fire with a rifle. McCormick was hit in the head by a bullet fragment. He’s been released from a hospital.

A $15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the capture of Dean.