Compiled by Andrew Brink andrew@dmcityview.com

On the Clock
Des Moines Police — July 21-22

July 21, 7 p.m.
Victim was walking east on Carpenter Avenue. When the suspect approached him on a bike and started asking questions, the victim said he needed to get home. The suspect got off his bike and told the victim that his friends had told him to hit the victim. The suspect then punched the victim, grabbed him, threw him to the ground and started kicking him. Then a second suspect and five other black males joined in and began kicking and punching him for three to four more minutes, the victim told police.

July 21, 11:11 p.m.
Witness reports that the victim was walking back from a neighborhood party, just a few houses up the street. The victim had his vehicle recently stolen and stopped some juveniles riding on bikes. The victim asked if they knew who had stolen his vehicle. It is unknown what was said, but the juveniles left and soon returned in a small Ford Ranger-type pick-up with several more juveniles in the back. Witnesses stated that the juveniles surrounded the victim and began to punch and kick him. The victim fell to the ground, then his wife, who reported the crime, came running out of the house after hearing a commotion. The juveniles jumped in the truck and drove off. The victim was transported to Mercy Medical Center.

July 22, 5:41 a.m.
Victim heard a clinking noise in his garage and went to investigate. Suspect saw victim and headed out the back door and started running down the alley. Victim chased suspect south on North Union Street for two blocks, then lost sight of suspect. Victim said suspect was a white male, in his 20s, wearing a black shirt, tan shorts and had bushy hair. Victim’s right side garage window was broken but nothing was stolen. Victim’s dirt bike had been taken outside the garage, but no damages were reported to the bike.

BUSTED

Name: Benjamin Eric Snyder
The story: While working off duty at Club A.M., an officer observed a dispute in the parking lot. The officer observed Snyder and a friend walking away from Heidi Lynn Hoover and Lashae Brown. Snyder then turned around, took a few steps towards Hoover, and punched her on the right side of her face. Hoover was not looking at Snyder when assaulted and did nothing to provoke the assault. Snyder was charged with assault causing injury.

DOCKET DIVING

The following is from a ruling made by the State of Iowa vs. April Ann Waltmann.

“A jury found April Waltmann guilty of stalking her former high school psychology teacher. On appeal, she contends trial counsel was ineffective in failing to “object to or seek redaction of letters and testimony in which [she] referred to prior drug use, thefts, assaults and other mischief.” She points to (1) a reference to having been officially arrested for pulling a fire alarm and hiding from law enforcement, (2) references to smoking marijuana, using drugs with her mother, lying, stealing and sinning against God, and (3) testimony that she caused others bodily harm.

Andrea Aykens testified that in February 2004, Waltmann “showed up” at her front door. Aykens told Waltmann that it was inappropriate for her to be there and she needed to leave. Waltmann left, but returned the same night. Aykens called 911 and the police came and took her away. Later that year, Waltmann left telephone messages for Aykens on her home phone. In the spring of 2005, Aykens received a letter from Waltmann at her home, stating, “Maybe I shouldn’t be sending this letter to you because of what you wrote to me about not contacting you.” The letter continued with an acknowledgment that Aykens could have feared Waltmann’s actions and Aykens could have worried about what she “planned to do” to her. Aykens testified the letter made her feel “intimidated,” afraid and “very threatened.” She told school personnel she did not feel safe at home or at work. She inquired about getting a restraining order. In November 2005, Waltmann called Aykens at 9:15 p.m. and left a message asking her to call back. At 11:18 p.m., Waltmann left a second message stating she was at the emergency room, had gotten high that night and needed a safe place. At approximately midnight, Waltmann came to Aykens’s home and started ringing the doorbell, pounding on the door and yelling Aykens’s name. She tried to enter the house, but the doors were locked. She then entered a detached garage. Aykens called 911, the police arrived and placed Waltmann under arrest. We conclude the evidence of stalking was overwhelming. Therefore, there was no reasonable probability that, had trial counsel successfully objected to the challenged evidence, the outcome would have been different.”

Missing

Name: Jeannie E. Hernandez
Age at report: 20
Age now: 22
Weight: 127 lbs.
Height: 5’04”
Race: White
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Sex: Female
Incident type: Endangered/physical

Jeannie Hernandez was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department, in Des Moines on Dec. 31, 2005. She has a tattoo of the name “Soriano” on the back of her neck, an unknown tattoo on her left wrist and a scar on her left arm.

If you have any information on the location of Jeannie Hernandez, please contact the Des Moines Police Department at (515) 283-4811.

From the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Web site: www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic.

30: The percent of all Iowa impaired drivers in fatal and serious injury crashes who are ages 16-24.

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