Compiled by Andrew Brink andrew@dmcityview.com

On the clock
Des Moines Police — July 15

5 p.m.
Victim assaulted in Hy-Vee parking lot, 4100 University Ave. According to the police report, the victim stated that two unknown black males assaulted him. The victim was driving home when a vehicle pulled along side him. The driver called out to him, “Daniel, you remember me?” The victim replied, “I’m not Daniel.” The victim then pulled into the Hy-Vee parking lot where the suspects followed him. When the victim got out of the car, one suspect tackled him and then another suspect joined in and began assaulting him.

7 p.m.
Wheels stolen from a garage in the 2100 block of 55th Street. The victim’s garage door was closed but unlocked. Someone entered the garage and stole four 20-inch rims, mounted with tires. Nothing else was reported stolen and nothing else was damaged. The victim will be in contact with specific tire brand and size.

9:30 p.m.
Breaking and entering reported at a house in the 1400 block of South east Bell Avenue. The home is currently empty due to remodeling. The victim’s daughter came to the house and found certain items missing. The victim’s daughter said the window could be opened with a knife because it was old. The items taken included a TV, saw, power drill and miter saw.

Busted

Name: Yvette Lea Rochon
The story: Des Moines Police arrested Rochon on July 17 after she ran her car into a parked car in the 1400 block of East 17th Street. Two victims were in the car at the time of the occurrence. The passenger was getting out of the vehicle when Rochon struck the vehicle from behind and pushed the car halfway down the block. Rochon then exited her vehicle and began swinging and chasing the car with a metal rod. After police found Rochon, she then said she had received an injury from the passenger after he hit her with a bottle. Witnesses at the scene saw no bottle or act of violence from the passenger. Rochon was charged with two counts of assault and disorder and possession of a dangerous weapon.

Docket Diving

The following is from a recent ruling made by the Iowa Court of Appeals regarding the case of the State of Iowa vs. Douglas Kinney.

“On Oct. 5, 2002, Douglas Kinney and his wife went to Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. They arrived at about 3:30 in the afternoon. Kinney drank beer while he was gambling. He brought $600, lost that, got more money from an ATM and lost that money as well. At about 10 p.m., Kinney left the casino without his wife and went to his vehicle. Kinney drove his Chevrolet Tahoe through a metal security gate and struck and destroyed a concrete planter. Kinney did not stop or slow down, but continued traveling at 44 m.p.h. through two sets of glass doors and into the casino. The vehicle did not stop until it struck the base of an escalator. Two people, Ardeth Klobnack and Sandra Veach, were seriously injured by Kinney’s actions.

After the crash, Kinney’s blood alcohol limit was .141. Kinney was charged with several crimes. Kinney’s defense was that it was an accident and he did not mean to harm anyone. Kinney did not file a defense of intoxication, but still presented evidence to show he was intoxicated at the time of the incident.

After a bench trial, the district court found Kinney guilty of two counts of willful injury and one count of criminal mischief. He was sentenced to three consecutive 10-year terms of imprisonment. Kinney’s convictions were affirmed on appeal.

At the post-conviction hearing, Kinney testified he drank 19 to 21 beers at Prairie Meadows. He stated, “About an hour prior to the accident I started feeling a little funny . . . I was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol.” Kinney stated he had urinated on himself while still inside the casino, and had vomited once he got out to his vehicle.

The district court denied Kinney’s post conviction relief. The court noted Kinney “made dramatically inconsistent statements to others, including his trial attorney, regarding the number of drinks he consumed.” The district court found, and we agree, Kinney has not shown there is a reasonable probability the result of his criminal trial would have been different if the additional evidence had been presented.”

Most wanted

Name: Phillip Lewis aka “JuneBug”
Age: 48
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 205 lbs.
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

Wanted for: Domestic assault, false imprisonment, harassment in the first degree.

Lewis should be considered armed and dangerous, with violent tendencies and should not be approached. If you know where to find this fugitive, call Crime Stoppers at 223-1400

2,324 : The number of speeding citations the Iowa State Patrol handed out during the special enforcement period that lasted from July 3-8.

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