Compiled by Bethany Kohoutek bethany@dmcityview.com

Dispatcher: 911...

Caller: I was wondering if I could have an officer meet me somewhere... [about] somebody on your most wanted list.
D: Meet you somewhere?
C: Yeah, because there's no house address, and this couple will leave if they see me.
D: Do you know the address or close to it?
C: ...I don't know the address, but if I can have an officer meet me, I can show them the address or close to it... I think it's Delaware Township, it's in between Des Moines and Altoona...
D: Yeah, I know exactly where you are. What are you driving right now?
C: I'm riding in a red [car]. I'm sitting right by the stop sign; you can't miss me. I'm in a big bright red car.
D: OK.
C: And it's Gena Rodriquez.
D: That's the name of the person?
C: Yep. She's on for bad checks.
D: It's Gena?
C: Gena.
D: I thought you said Geno.
C: No.
D: How do you know that she's on the Metro's Most wanted?
C: I seen it when I was down at the Pleasant Hills Library... .
D: OK, we'll let them know.
C: Thank you. Bye.
Officer's Report: Dispatched on a wanted person. [A caller] reported Gena Rodriguez was listed on Metro's Most Wanted List. She said Gena was wanted for fraud... [The caller] said Gena was also with a male. She described the house as a blue two-story with a boat in the yard... I located the house [and] approached the east door and saw Gena and the male in the living room through the window. I knocked on the door and Gena ran off through the house. [The male] answered the door and I asked him where Gena was. [He] said he did not want to get involved. I asked [him] if he knew Gena was wanted, and he said yes. I asked where she was and he motioned upstairs. [A sergeant] arrived and found Gena upstairs. Gena was placed under arrest on a Clive Police Department warrant...for [third degree] theft. I transported Gena to the Polk County Jail without further incident.

Docket diving

Malachi is a happy, healthy 10-year-old kid. He goes to school and has adult role models that he looks to for emotional support.

Which is important for any 10-year-old, but especially crucial for Malachi (which is the only name he is identified by in court documents), who has "continuing developmental deficits, and emotional and behavioral problems," according to court documents. Malachi wasn't happy or healthy three years ago. And it took him a long time, and a lot of jockeying in the judicial and social-service systems, for him to reach the point he is at today.

In July 2003, Malachi's mother, Marsha, was arrested because she had never enrolled Malachi in school. He was 7 years old at the time. Department of Human Services (DHS) officials placed Malachi at a shelter, where they witnessed bizarre behavior from the boy. He was "aggressive and assaultive," the court notes, and he would "express his anger and frustration while growling and crawling on all fours." At one point during his stay at the shelter, he was hospitalized because of his destructive behavior.

Eventually, Malachi's great uncle agreed to take him in. That living situation lasted for three months, as Malachi was "cruel" to one of his uncle's pets, and exhibited "animalistic behaviors" that were "causing problems" between the uncle and his fiancŽe, according to court documents.

In November of 2003, Malachi was again transferred, this time to a paternal aunt and uncle. He has remained in their care ever since - and likely will for good, thanks to a recent Court of Appeals decision. In 2005, a juvenile court terminated Marsha's parental rights and severed her custody of her son. Marsha challenged this decision. (Malachi's father, who had had only minimal contact with his son, did not challenge.) Marsha charged that DHS did not make an "appropriate effort" to reunite her with her child.

The appellate court found her arguments baseless, however. In its ruling, the court points to the fact that although Marsha was enrolled in parenting and substance-abuse classes, she refused to take recommended medication or participate in recommended psychotherapy. She has ongoing, "serious mental issues," the court found.

"Marsha remains unable or unwilling to set appropriate boundaries for Malachi, direct and supervise him, and when necessary, control and discipline him," one justice wrote.

Malachi, meanwhile, wants to be adopted by his aunt and uncle. He "looks to them for emotional support," the court found, and "is strongly bonded to them." His behavior has improved "dramatically" since his new guardians have instilled "appropriate structure, supervision and direction" in his life.

By her own admission

A Des Moines woman called police last week to report that her home had been burglarized. When officers arrived on the scene, they asked the woman if she had any idea who could have broken in. The woman replied that it could be her neighbor, as he had "been in her house several times and knew what was in there." The woman went on to tell police that she had done drugs with her neighbor for three weeks, and therefore, he would know the layout of the house.

Food fight

Des Moines resident Toni Searcy ended up in the Polk County Jail last week after a fight over food turned to fisticuffs. The male victim reported that he had been swimming with Searcy's niece, and when the group returned home, Searcy (who lives with her niece) asked what was for dinner. When the victim answered, Searcy "went off," the victim told police, hitting and scratching him, and eventually striking him with a flashlight. Officers arrived and found the victim bleeding, and Searcy walking down Ingersoll Avenue with a flashlight. She was taken into custody.

On the clock

Des Moines Police - July 4

2:15 a.m.
1700 block of Pleasant. A female victim was attacked and robbed on her way home from a downtown bar. The male suspect pushed her to the ground, knocking her glasses from her face and causing bruises to her arm. He then grabbed her bag, which included a cell phone, credit cards, keys and a wallet. The victim walked several blocks until she was able to seek help. Police were unable to locate the suspect following the incident.

3:40 a.m.
Injured person at the river bridge on S.W. 9th Street. Police were dispatched to check on a male victim who had fallen through a hole in the river bridge. According to the victim's friend, who witnessed the incident, the victim was walking home from the gas station when he accidentally stepped into a hole and fell onto the concrete below the bridge. The witness rushed down to check on the victim and found him conscious but unable to speak. Paramedics and police responded, and the victim was transported to Iowa Methodist Hospital. The witness said he and the victim had returned home for the night, after drinking at a bar in Clive, when they decided to leave on foot to buy cigarettes.

3:07 p.m.
Exploding and possession of fireworks in the 900 block of Geil. For the second time in less than 24 hours, police discovered the juvenile suspect lighting off bottle rockets. When officers asked the suspect why he didn't heed their warning the first time, he reportedly said, "You should have taken the fireworks away from me last night and done your job then." The boy was arrested, then released into his father's custody.

(Alleged) drug dealers

Name: Robert Wayne Wyatt
Arrested: July 1
Possession with intent to deliver amphetamine

Name: Robert Cecil Majors
Arrested: June 29
Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine and mushrooms

Name: Rodney Lee Boals
Arrested: June 28
Conspiracy to deliver amphetamine

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